Retail Stores

The most significant takeaway from the report centered on the importance of multichannel operations including fulfillment of .com, mobile and tablet orders. The report states that electronic e-commerce sales have grown by more than 15 percent to $35.3 billion versus an overall sales growth of 4.1 percent versus the previous year. 

Wal-Mart will add more self-checkout lanes at its Wal-Mart and Sam's Clubs stores as it continues to look for ways to lower costs and prices, CEO Charles Holley said.

Those who attended the Online Retailer Roadshow in Melbourne yesterday were lucky enough to hear Ruby Anik, senior vice president of brand marketing for J.C. Penney, say some surprising things about the future of retail. 

While promotional discounts play a major role in many retailers' marketing plans, only 17 percent of consumers say that sales or coupons draw them to a store.

Stein Mart will expand its presence with the opening of three new stores on March 15. The new stores will be located in Irvine, California; Suwanee, Georgia; and Sunset Hills, Missouri.

Now that airlines have realized how much money they can make by selling more than just a seat on their planes, they're coming up with all sorts of income-producing ideas — including selling flight interruption insurance and producing merchandise with their logos.

Luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter is hoping to tap into the demand for expensive childrenswear, home furnishings and cosmetics with early-stage plans for three new websites. Net-a-Porter, founded in June 2000 by Natalie Massenet, already sells designer clothes and accessories for women, as well as menswear via MrPorter.com, launched a year ago, and the discount designer sector with TheOutnet.com that launched in 2009.

High-end department store Nordstrom is funneling its returned and worn shoes to its Nordstrom Rack outlet stores. This practice is surprising since outlet stores aren't known as secondhand stores.

The Home Depot and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia have extended their agreement to offer Martha Stewart Living-branded products at Home Depot stores through 2016. The Home Depot offers a wide variety of paint, outdoor furniture, kitchen and bath cabinetry, and carpeting under the Martha Stewart brand currently.

For extreme couponers who pay only a few bucks for an entire shopping cart's worth of goods, or even earn money on their shopping trips by reimbursing coupons with a higher value than the item's price, couponing practically functions as a part-time job. Stores are ready to give them the pink slip.