Macy’s and designer Tommy Hilfiger have reached a deal that will make the store Hilfiger’s exclusive “department store” retailer.
retail
U.S. Retailers And Police Ask Online Sellers To Help Fight Theft
By 10.26.07
The retail industry claims it loses $30 billion a year from organized retail crime—rings of professional shoplifters who sell their goods at flea markets, pawn shops, and online through auction sites like eBay—so they’re asking online sellers to help by posting serial numbers of products and by providing more information on high-volume sellers. Right now all they can do is ask, but there are politicians in Washington who are making noises about pursuing a legislative solution.
Study Shows Shoppers Will Pay More Than Necessary For Fair Trade Goods
By 10.23.07
A new Harvard study shows that shoppers—at least the crazy rich ones who frequent ABC Carpet and Home in New York City (if you’ve ever been inside ABC, you know the sort of people we’re talking about)—will not only gravitate toward products labeled “fair trade” over identical but unlabeled products, but will buy even more of them when the prices are raised.
Best Buy: We Charge More For An Open Item
By 10.23.07
At first when reader Brian sent this photo of an open item that cost more than a new one, we thought, “HA! Stupid!”
Scabies Outbreak Shuts Down The Children's Place
By 10.19.07
A Children’s Place store was shut down and fumigated after an outbreak of scabies amongst its employees. Ew!
Walmart Threatening Legal Action Against Websites That Leak Its "Black Friday" Circular
By 10.18.07
You must wait until Nov. 19 to know what delicious deals Walmart has in store for America this “Black Friday.” The Mart of Wal is threatening legal action against any website so bold as to post the coveted “Black Friday” circular before that date.
Bed Bath & Beyond Forbids Cell Phone Cameras
By 10.17.07
Bed Bath & Beyond tries to prevent shoppers from doing any online comparisons or research, because it has a “no photos” policy in its store. I discovered this yesterday when I used my cellphone to take a no-flash, silent photo of a coffee grinder.
EBgames Taking Permanent Pre-Orders For Canceled Game
By 10.16.07
If you want to grab a copy of the non-existent game “Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising,” your best bet is to pre-order from EBgames, because it’s been put on “indefinite hold”—aka canceled—by the publisher and we’re not sure how else you’d get a copy. Obviously EBgames does, because they’re still taking orders as of 3:18pm EST, October 16th.
Pepsi Worker Attacks Coke Worker At Walmart
By 10.15.07
Police say that two soft drink workers, one representing Pepsi (David Paulina, 42) and one representing Coca-Cola (Robert Koscho, 48) “tried to run each other over with pallets full of soda bottles” at a Pennsylvania Walmart. The violence escalated outside the store, and the Coke rep ended up with a broken nose.
Her Depot: Home Depot For Women
By 10.14.07
Scary man tools will be replaced by decorative trinkets and stylish furniture at the new Home Depot pilot store designed to attract women. Tragically dubbed “Her Depot,” the store will abandon Home Depot’s warehouse aesthetic in favor of shorter, “cleaner” aisles that emphasize home organization and interior design.
“There is a showroom of doors and windows unlike any other we’ve ever tried,” Feldman said.
3 Ways To Improve Your Online Shopping Experience
By 10.12.07
SmartMoney offers three tips to improve some of the most common down-sides of shopping online: too many results, not enough discounts, and dreaded shipping fees.
Target To Offer David Bowie Themed Clothes. Sadly, No Sequined Jumpsuits, Not Designed By Bowie
By 10.12.07
“British musician-turned-designer Keanan Duffty” has designed a line of David Bowie-themed mens wear for Target, according to a press release that reads like an acceptance speech:
Many Shoppers Just Aren't Buying Christmas Stuff In October
By 10.12.07
Apparently a lot of U.S. consumers feel the same way as our readers do about stores putting up Christmas displays before Halloween—that is, they don’t like it. A new survey finds that despite early store displays, 40% of shoppers don’t plan on starting Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving, an increase of 10% over the previous year.
Hey Shoppers: Apparently, You Still Hate The Gap
By 10.11.07
Even though the Gap was kind enough to address (er, refute) our reader’s observations about the Gap’s general state of crappiness, we haven’t forgotten that the store isn’t doing so well sales-wise, and it is therefore our sad duty to inform you that same store sales are down 7%.
Circuit City's Clever Circular Ad Misprint Explanation
By 10.11.07
Mark writes:
Saw a great deal at Circuit City in yesterday’s Sunday ad. Not crazy, but great. $5 for a Sony 1G Microvault Flash drive… The ad said, “Save $25. Reg. 29.95.”
Costco Sales Up While Other Retailers Cry
By 10.10.07
Costco shoppers, who might pick up a $1,270 strand of cultured pearls while buying cases of seltzer, spent more even as costs for housing, fuel and food rose. Customers also purchased iPods, digital cameras and prepared food.
Walmart's Total Retail Space Is Larger Than Manhattan
By 10.9.07
The latest issue of GOOD Magazine has a sweet graphic showing the comparative landmass taken up by the world’s largest retail chains. Walmart leads with a total square footage larger than Manhattan. By comparison, McDonald’s has a net footrprint of about 1 and 3/4 Central Parks. The image also shows 7-11, Blockbuster, Subway, KFC, GAP, Burger King, Starbucks, and Wendy’s.
Huggies Diapers, Scott Toilet Paper, Will Soon Be More Expensive
By 10.9.07
Consumer goods manufacturer Kimberly-Clark announced today that it was raising prices on a variety of products from Huggies diapers to Scott and Cottonelle bathroom tissue.
