All North America articles – Page 30
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News
Major retailers begin test-selling through eBay
Major retailers Target, Best Buy, Walgreens and Macy’s have begun test-selling through eBay in San Francisco. Shoppers can order products with the new ‘eBay Now’ app, available for Apple devices.Local stores’ inventory data is uploaded to the online marketplace Milo – acquired by eBay in late 2010 – with the ...
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Apple authorises US store employees to offer iPhone discounts
Apple has authorised its US store employees to offer discounts on iPhones in an unprecedented move by the retailer.The initiative will allow Apple to match promotions offered by wireless carriers and third-party retailers, according to The Wall Street Journal.Employees may now offer discounts of up to $49 (£31) on the ...
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AnalysisInternational analysis: Best Buy and Target venture signals full merger potential
In what could be seen as a step towards to a potential merger, mass merchant Target has partnered with Best Buy for its consumer electronics expertise.
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Sales fall at department store group JCPenney
Department store group JCPenney’s sales fell 22.6% to $3.02bn (£1.92bn) for the second quarter ended July 28. Like-for-like sales were down 21.7%. Online sales were $220m (£140m) in the period, a fall of 32.6%. The retailer said the results included the effects of its exit from its outlet business and ...
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Gap posts second-quarter revenue increase
Clothing retailer Gap has posted second-quarter results for the period ended July 28.Revenues increased by 6% to $3.58bn (£2.3bn) from $3.39bn (£2.18bn) in the same period in 2011. The retailer’s second-quarter comparable sales were up 4% compared with a 2% decrease in the second quarter last year.Chairman and chief executive ...
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Richard Schulze in bid to purchase Best Buy
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze is vying to buy the electronics giant in a $9bn (£5.8bn) deal.Schulze, who was ousted as chairman in June, already owns 20% of the retailer and is looking to team up with private equity firms to buy the remainder.Schulze’s financial adviser Credit Suisse said it ...
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Lowe’s aims to acquire Canadian competitor
Home improvement retailer Lowe’s aims to acquire Canadian competitor Rona for C$1.8bn (£1.15bn).Rona has already publicly rejected the offer stating that “it is not in the best interest of the company and its stakeholders” and that it would prefer to remain focused on executing its business plan.Rona is implementing its ...
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Amazon introduces instant video app for iPad
Amazon has introduced an instant video app for iPad. It will enable customers to stream or download movies and TV episodes from their Amazon library directly to the device.Amazon previously offered this service for its Kindle Fire tablet, but the latest initiative broadens the service to a wider audience and ...
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Apple posts net sales growth
Apple posted net sales of $35bn (£22.29bn) for its third quarter ended June 30, up from $28.6bn (£18.21bn) in 2011.Net profit rose from $7.3bn (£4.64bn) last year to $8.8bn (£5.6bn).International sales accounted for 62% of the quarter’s revenue. Apple sold 26 million iPhones, representing 28% unit growth, while 17 million ...
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JCPenney to stock discount apparel brand
Department store group JCPenney will stock Canadian grocer Loblaw’s discount apparel brand, Joe Fresh, in 700 stores starting in April 2013. The areas, designed by the Joe Fresh team, will range from about 1,000 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft, and debut with women’s apparel. Joe Fresh products will also ...
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Amazon records increase in sales
Amazon recorded a 29% increase in sales to $12.83bn (£8.17bn) in its second quarter ended June 30. That was slightly below Wall Street expectations and compared with a record 51% growth for the corresponding quarter last year.Operating profit declined to $107m (£68.1m) from $201m (£128m). Revenue at the company’s North ...
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AnalysisAnalysis: What's the best route to international markets?
As trading conditions in the UK remain tough, retailers are looking overseas for growth. We look at the potential and pitfalls of the various routes to international markets.
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Amazon reveals exclusive agreement with Warner Bros
Amazon has revealed an exclusive agreement with Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution to add popular TV shows to its Prime Instant Video catalogue.These titles – including shows like Fringe and The West Wing – will be available to Amazon Prime members this summer, adding to its Prime offering of more ...
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Walmart launches classroom supply lists online
Walmart has launched an online compilation of classroom supply lists for schools across the entire country.Classrooms by Walmart, introduced by the company’s @WalmartLabs division, enables parents to find their children’s classroom supply lists and purchase the items via Walmart.com or at their local Walmart store.According to Walmart, it is the ...
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Nordstrom finalises plans to set up shop in Canada
Department store group Nordstrom is finalising plans to set up shop in Canada. It is thought to have four locations in the pipeline to be converted from soon-to-be-vacant Sears Canada stores in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto.Nordstrom is also believed to be keen to take over the Sears flagship store ...
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Target and Neiman Marcus to co-launch special designer collection
Discounter Target and department store group Neiman Marcus are to co-launch a special collection featuring more than 50 products from 24 designers this winter.These will be created by designers including Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Diane von Furstenberg. The Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection will ...
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Ikea releases film to promote 2013 catalogue
Ikea has released a two-minute film to promote the forthcoming publication of its 2013 catalogue. The film was created by the global agency of record for the Ikea catalogue, McCann New York. A World Without Textiles is the theme for the catalogue, and features a family living in an uncomfortable ...
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SuperValu reports net sales decline
SuperValu has reported net sales of $10.6bn (£6.82bn) for its first quarter, compared with $11.1bn (£7.14bn) the previous year. The retailer’s net earnings declined 45% to $41m (£26.39m).SuperValu put the fall in earnings down to the disposal of a majority of fuel stations, a decline in like-for-like sales and market ...
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JCPenney to revamp US stores
Department store chain JCPenney is revamping almost 700 US stores. The scheme will create a new in-store layout, including multiple smaller units, dedicated to particular brands such as clothing and cosmetics. The initial transformation of 10 stores is expected to be completed by August 2012. The retailer is to remodel ...
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Crate&Barrel push international expansion
Otto Group-owned homeware retailer Crate&Barrel is pushing its international expansion.The retailer plans to open a store in New Mexico as well as in Singapore and Santiago de Chile. Two shops in Dubai opened in 2011.Crate&Barrel aims to have six stores outside North America in the next 18 months.