Cross Channel News
Glendale Acquired by Capital Resource Partners
Private equity firm Capital Resource Partners has acquired Glendale, a direct marketer of ceremonial uniform accessories and parade equipment worn and used by the military, police and fire departments, schools and organizations. ...
Hayne to Succeed Senk as Urban Outfitters' CEO
Glen Senk resigned as CEO of Urban Outfitters on Monday, and has been succeeded by president and chairman Richard Hayne. Senk, who also resigned from the Board of Directors, will remain with Urban Outfitters to assist management with the transition, the company said in a release....
10 Tips for Successful Crosschannel Marketing
Successful crosschannel marketers recognize that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow really depends on leveraging the strengths of all channels. Here's a few tips for 2012...
3 Strategies for Last-minute Holiday Email Campaigns
Most email marketers have their holiday promotional calendar mapped out well before Black Friday. But what if you find yourself needing to put together a message quickly to meet your end-of-year or holiday season sales goals? Here are some tips to help you create a timely email when you are short on time....
Online Marketing New Year’s Resolutions for 2012
In 2011, merchants explored ways to establish a cross-channel brand presence and user experience and examined how best to best collect data, acquire customers and communicate effectively in this quickly changing landscape. With the peak holiday season wrapping up, let’s look at a few New Year’s resolutions to bring success throughout 2012....
Surveys Indicate Slow Retail Growth This Holiday
A few weeks after the National Retail Federation projected a happy online holiday shopping season, a pair of surveys released yesterday show both retailers and consumers are proceeding with caution....
Deloitte: Cautious Consumers Will Still Spend This Holiday
While two-thirds of consumers expect the economy to stay the same or weaken next year, nearly three out of five will put aside financial worries and spend the same or more this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s 26th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends. This is a slight decline from 2010 but an eight percentage point increase from 2009. ...
Harry and David Names Craig Johnson CEO
Here's to hoping Craig Johnson hadn’t sold his Oregon home. The former CEO of Musician's Friend is coming back to Medford, OR as Harry & David's new CEO, the food and gifts retailer announced Tuesday....
Court Approves Sale of Signature Styles
It’s official: A bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of Signature Style’s assets to Artemiss. Terms of the agreement call for Artemiss to pay $2 million in cash, and assume up to $10 million owed in gift cards and some debt....
Is Harry & David Out of the Woods?
Industry experts say Harry & David will exit Chapter 11 in good shape, but they need to adapt to change and preserve its identity in the long run....
Harry and David Gets Chapter 11 Exit Approval
The plan allows Harry & David to convert all of its approximately $200 million of outstanding public notes into equity of the reorganized company. That includes an equity capital raise that will generate $55 million in equity financing upon the Harry & David's emergence from Chapter 11. ...
Study Shows Merchants Still Aren't Multichannel
You may sell through multiple channels, but are you really a multichannel merchant? Most merchants aren't, according to a study conducted in April by cross-channel commerce solution provider CrossView....
Why It's The End for Borders
Robert Passikoff, president of loyalty marketing firm Brand Keys, says Borders dug its own grave. For example, instead of adding e-readers, Borders' inventory went from just books to also include mugs, candles and stationery....
Borders Accepts Stalking Horse Deal From Direct Brands
Bankrupt books and music merchant Borders Group has accepted a stalking horse bid from direct music and books seller Direct Brands worth more than $435 million. Direct Brands, a portfolio company of Najafi Companies, owns direct sellers Book-of-the-Month Club, Doubleday Book Clubs and Columbia House. ...
Apple's Johnson Will Have Work to Do at J. C. Penney
Since Johnson has been in charge for the trendy, fast-growing Apple Store chain, articles like this one from The Associated Press have speculated that J.C. Penney will go from square to hip. But even with J.C. Penney making moves to modify its image, can Johnson make the merchant's customer experience more like Apple Store's?...
Upgrade to HTML5 to Bridge Online, Mobile and Retail
Customers are no longer just finding your Website on browsers line Internet Explorer, FireFox and Safari. They are coming in through smartphones and portable tablet computers, and your site may not be compatible with those devices. That's why you may want to consider a redesign on an HTML5-based platform. ...
New Canadian Anti-spam Legislation Coming
Do you send email to Canada? Then you’d better plan to meet the requirements of the new Canadian Anti-spam Legislation (CASL) Bill-C28 to be enforced later this year...
Boston Apparel Group Lays Off 300; Plans To Close Facility
The Boston Apparel Group is downsizing in a big way. The multititle apparel mailer will lay off more than 300 workers at its former Chadwick’s of Boston facility, according to the Taunton (MA) Daily Gazette. Layoffs will begin later this month and officials will ultimately close the facility....
Merchants Prevail In Swipe Fee Reform Vote
An amendment pushed by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) that would have delayed implementation of swipe fee reform for two years did not get enough votes in Senate yesterday to break a filibuster. The amendment picked up 54 votes for and 45 against, but needed 60 yes votes to go into effect....
NRF Urges Tester to Drop Swipe Fee Repeal Fight
The National Retail Federation launched a radio ad campaign aimed at Senator Jon Tester's attempt to stall swipe-fee reform....
PRC Approves Summer QR Code Promo
The QR code promotion that the U.S. Postal Service proposed last month has been given the green light by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The program offers a discount to catalogers who use...
Linkner: Restoring Creativity in The New Retail World
Instead of looking back at the past, focus on unleashing your creativity today....
This Mother’s Day, Mom’s Getting Pampered, According to NRF Survey
According to NRF’s 2011 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $140.73 on gifts, up from $126.90 last year, and a return to 2008 spending levels. Total spending is expected to reach $16.3 billion....
National Retailer Changes Name From Home Trends Catalogs to QCI Direct, Unveils New Web Site
Home Trends Catalogs, a national retailer of household and personal care products, has changed their name to QCI Direct. The change coincides with the unveiling of QCIDirect.com, their comprehensive new Web site. ...
Men's Wearhouse Named Title Sponsor of The Experts Network Draft Preview Show
In partnership with The Experts Network (TXN) and Big Lead Sports, The Men's Wearhouse NFL Draft Preview Show will be the first completely digital program to feature four of the biggest and most respected names in sports broadcasting — Cris Collinsworth, Boomer Esiason, Howie Long, and Phil Simms. ...
