retail

Macy's Pro-Gay Message

Corliss Fong, 59, helps the nation's largest department-store chain reach gay and lesbian customers across its 850 stores, managing everything from its shift to a more inclusive gift registry to the controversy that erupted after one of its Boston stores removed a gay-themed window display.READ»

• More on Gay Marketing

Commerce Search: Google Attempts to Boost Online Stores With Boringness

Google's tentacles extend everywhere online, including e-commerce--thanks to Google Checkout, for one. But now it's got a new system, Commerce Search, which companies can use to inject smart search skills into their online stores. ...READ»

The Marcel Wanders Collection You Won't See at Target This Holiday

The witty Dutch designer played it safe for the discount retailer, but a new behind-the-scenes look book released by his studio reveals the Christmas that could have been.READ»

EB Maternity Keeping Expectant Mothers Fashionable

Around the time you begin your second trimester of pregnancy, you will discover that your clothing is no longer supporting that new body of yours, and you soon realize that it is now time for some maternity clothing. Unfortunately for many expectant mothers, the most stylish maternity clothing solution thay can find is unflattering stretch denim pants and a t-shirt twice the normal size they would wear, also stretch.READ»

Wal-Mart Plans to Grow by Shrinking

The mega-retailer plans to scale down new store sizes and re-engineer its merchandising, but will they leave behind hulking, vacant buildings (again)? READ»

Did Sears Just Whoop Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Target in the Book-Price War?

Last week, Wal-Mart cut the price of some popular new books to just $10, a slice of over 60%. Not willing to be out-done, Amazon matched them. Wal-Mart went down to $9. Amazon went to $8.99. Target jumped in at ...READ»

Wal-Mart Hacked: Is Credit Card Data Safe?

Source code for Wal-Mart's point-of-sale computer system was hacked and siphoned into Eastern European computers in 2005 and 2006, Wired.com reported today. The scale of the attack calls into question whether major retailers have been ...READ»

Li Ning and Ziba Design Want to Build China’s First Truly Global Brand

You may think you've never heard of Li Ning. But assuming you were one of the 4 billion or so people watching the opening ceremony of last year's Beijing Olympics, you've seen him.READ»

Hackintosh Superstore Will Raise $175 Million in IPO

Newegg, the hardware hacker's playground, is making an initial public offering valued at $175 million, according to Reuters. The venture-backed e-tailer has been profitable every year since it opened its doors in 2001, scooping up ...READ»

Are Apple Stores a Terrible Place to Work?

We tracked down a former employee of the Lynnwood, Wa. Apple store, who confirms that the management staff was less than friendly during his tenure there. “We were convinced we were making a difference and helping Apple, and the [management] took advantage of that,” he says. READ»

Dire Straits sings big city retailers’ supply chain lament

Managing the supply chain for retail stores located in big cities creates the need for more retail-focused, best-of-breed productivity platforms to enhance store inventory management, sales tracking, and automated replenishment. READ»

Will Tech Buyers Ever Come Back?

Is the tech sector weaker than we think? Just last week, analysts were abuzz over buoying technology stocks: The tech-heavy Nasdaq hit 2,000 points on news that chip demand was once again rising. Philadelphia's Semiconductor Index, ...READ»

Five To-Die-For Augmented Reality Shopping Apps

Change how you buy--and how you find the places you shop with an emerging array of programs that will remake everything from roaming the mall to impulse buying.READ»

Plans For Microsoft Retail Stores Leak Online

A highly detailed proposal for Microsoft's stores leaked online late Friday afternoon, and if it's real, Redmond's first foray into retail appears to be following the usual Microsoft formula: Roll up the best ideas of others and ...READ»

Microsoft Poaches Former Apple Exec for Retail Rollout

Microsoft recently announced they were planning to open up retail stores ala Apple near the latter company's existing locations. Leading the charge is former Wal-Mart merchandising guru David Porter, who was hired on as Redmond's ...READ»

Is Amazon the New Wal-Mart?

Egos at Amazon must be riding high this month. The retailer sold out of its flagship product, the Kindle DX, not once but twice. Then, to cap it all off, this morning investment research and banking firm Cowen and Company called ...READ»

Did Apple Sell a Million iPhone 3G S This Weekend? You Betcha [Update--Confirmed]

Some analysis last week poured cold water on the idea that the new iPhone 3G S would outsell its predecessor on the first weekend, and only make 500,000 sales. We say otherwise, and there's plenty of data around to back that ...READ»

Amazon Plunges Into Private Label Business

Following in the footsteps of its brick-and-mortar brethren, Amazon has quietly moved into the private label business, developing brands for patio furniture, tools, linens and kitchen appliances. But while storefront retailers often ...READ»

How to Beat the Apple Tax

So you're thinking about getting a Mac, but you don't want to pay the "Apple tax" that Microsoft's latest ads are always prattling on about. Here's how. Forget eBay The days of deal-having on eBay are gone, ...READ»

Diversity and the Retail Sector

As an early adopter with regard to formal corporate diversity initiatives, the retail sector used to be considered a high profile innovator and driver of diversity recruitment programs, while supporting the needs of a diverse employee-base. But does that remain the case today? Did the retail sector rest on their laurels following early diversity "wins", only to become less proactive in advocating and innovating in the diversity arena? READ»

iFive: Verizon Wireless Preps Kindle Killer, Mark Cuban Prevents Layoffs, and Frank Gehry Likes Ike in Today's Innovation News

While you were sleeping, innovation had too much to drink and bought a bunch of stuff he didn't need. Here's today's innovation news: 1. Can you read me now? Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam told attendees at the CTIA ...READ»

Lululemon’s Cult of Selling

Lululemon has created a cult following for its yoga gear. Its secret? The Secret, as well as other controversial self-help classics.READ»

• Big Stretch

Big Stretch

Lululemon isn't the only niche retailer trying to break out.READ»

• Om My

Think Retail

Jill Lajdziak thinks this recession is her best-ever moment to innovate. Not coincidentally she also thinks retail is a critical point-of-difference for her born-again brand, Saturn.READ»

Microsoft Stores

Imagine if you opened a store where selling stuff wasn't the main idea. What would be the point of that? That's the challenge -- and opportunity -- facing David Porter, the former Wal-Mart executive just hired by Microsoft to figure out what a Microsoft "store" should be.READ»