Over 60% of U.S. Retailers Would Consider Banning Serial Returners

| Mike O'Brien

Sixty-one percent of U.S. retailers said they would consider banning serial returners as Amazon has done to combat the growing wave brought on by over-generous policies, according to a new survey from UK ecommerce software firm Brightpearl. In the UK, 45% of retailers said they would consider doing so.

Nordstrom Launches Revamped Loyalty Program

| Daniela Forte

Nordstrom is launching a revamp of its customer loyalty program, incorporating a traditional point system and benefits from its previous program while offering enhanced personalization. Here are some of the new features the loyalty program is expected to offer its members.

Same-Day Delivery App Curbside Acquired by Rakuten

| Mike O'Brien

Tokyo-based marketplace and logistics supplier Rakuten has acquired Curbside, a startup with $50 million in funding that powers same-day store and restaurant pickup of online orders, for an undisclosed amount. See what this deal means for the retail and restaurant customers of Curbside.

Nordstrom Partners with Anthropologie on New Home Products

| Daniela Forte

Nordstrom is partnering with Anthropologie to introduce home products line in 15 of their retail locations and on Nordstrom.com beginning March 19. The collaboration is part of a larger trend of partnerships between retailers, sometimes those in competition with each other.

Nordstrom Reports November and December Combined Sales

| MCM staff

Nordstrom, Inc. announced an increase in its net sales of 2.5% and an increase in comparable sales of 1.2% percent for the nine weeks ended December 30, 2017, compared to 2016. See what the fiscal 2017 expectations Nordstrom set going for the rest of the year.

Happy Returns Takes a New Approach to Ecommerce Returns

| Mike O'Brien

A startup company is looking to ease a chronic ecommerce pain point – returns – by enabling customers to bring unwanted items to a nearby mall for fast processing and credit, even if the seller doesn’t have its own stores. See what Happy Returns has been up to and what its plans are for the future.

Omnichannel Investments Pay Off for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers

| Erik Morton

While things look dire in physical retail, investments in omnichannel are paying off for some traditional retailers. There are similarities in the playbook across a diverse group of companies, including aligning physical stores with the ecommerce channel, investing in private brands, and aggressively expanding product assortment. See how some of the leaders are staying ahead of the curve.