Retail Sales Show Mixed Results for 2009
Did 2009 end on a high note for retailers? It depends on who you ask. The National Retail Federation and U.S. Census Bureau said December sales improved year-over-year, but their estimates differed.
Tim Parry
Live From NRF: Bing Building Better Maps
Tim Henderson, a business development manager for Microsoft, said his company has made strides with its map features that he hopes will make Bing Maps a choice of multichannel retailers.
Live from NRF: 2009 Online Sales Grew 18%
Online sales reported to Forrester grew 11% in the first quarter of 2009, 12% in the second, 16% in the third and 26% in the fourth.
Live from NRF: Consumers Want Cross-Channel Synergy
As a merchant, you may consider yourself to be multichannel. But the customer views your bricks-and-mortar stores and Website as one entity, according to a survey shown Monday at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention and Expo.
ComScore Says E-Commerce Sales Rose 5% This Holiday
Online purchasing behavior monitoring company comScore said that e-commerce spending from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve was about $27 million, an increase of 5% over last year.
Gander Mountain Announces Plans to Delist
Multichannel outdoor gear and apparel merchant Gander Mountain took another step in its intent to go private on Dec. 29 when it announced plans to withdraw its shares of common stock from listing on the Nasdaq Global Market.
1-800-Flowers.com to Drop Partnership With Affinion
Multititle mailer 1-800-flowers.com said on Dec. 23 that that it will not renew its contract for third-party administration of its membership program with affinity marketing firm Affinion, and will eliminate data-passing of credit card information.
eBay Sees Surge in M-commerce Sales
E-commerce marketplace eBay said it saw a surge in m-commerce sales this holiday season.
La Tienda Opens First Retail Location
Spanish foods importer La Tienda opened its first retail store on Dec. 10 in Williamsburg, VA. Other than its proximity to its headquarters in nearby Toano, VA, why Williamsburg?
FedEx to Raise Ground Rates 4.9%
FedEx announced late last week that it will increase the standard list rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by an average of 4.9%, effective Jan. 4. The increase will match a previously announced rate increase by rival carrier UPS.