Goldman Sachs

Just weeks after Macy's declared it's looking for a new way to grow revenues, a major North Carolina rival confirms it might be for sale. Analysts are skeptical the Cincinnati-based retailer wants to double-down on a traditional department store concept, however. Belk, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates 297 department stores throughout the Southeast from Maryland to Texas. Last week, Belk reported a $146.1 million profit on revenues of $4.1 billion, but disclosed it was reviewing its long-term strategic plan and hired investment banker Goldman Sachs to weigh its options.

America's supercenters are dying a slow death. Huge big-box stores like Wal-Mart Supercenters and Target are being phased out in favor of "some combination of value and convenience," Goldman Sachs recently wrote. "Just about every major trend we're following right now bodes poorly for power center retail," Doug Stephens, founder of

There's little doubt that even though B-to-B e-commerce has so far lagged behind the evolution of its B-to-C counterpart, it will inevitably and rapidly penetrate most industries and business models. Faced with internal and external pressures to better serve their customers, control costs and improve margins, companies will look fervently to adapt many of the techniques, technologies and tools that have made purchasing B-to-C products and services online a rich and seamless experience.

New York City -- A report released Thursday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs said that 34% of consumers plan to shop on Black Friday, up from 31% in 2010 and 26% in 2009. “In addition to buying gifts, consumers overwhelmingly indicated that they would be looking for bargains on Black Friday for themselves as well,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist and director of research for ICSC. Additionally, with some retailers planning to open for limited hours on Thanksgiving Day, 16% of consumers indicated that they would take advantage and head to the mall.

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