Oct. 22, 2010 at 12:18 p.m.
Filed under:
Consumer news,
Economy,
Retail
Chicago Costume has a wide array of items for Halloween, for which people are expected to spend an average of $73, according to an American Express survey. (Alex Garcia/Tribune)
By Dawn Rhodes | Ankit Patel and Valerie Loborec were scouring the aisles at the cavernous Chicago Costume in Lincoln Park, hoping to find the perfect Halloween costume.
Patel, 26, of Lakeview, didn’t want to spend more than $60 and came away empty-handed.
“I just don’t think it’s worth it,” he said, standing next to a display of accessories for two of the hottest themes: Lady Gaga and Jersey Shore cast members. “It’s just one day and you don’t want to wear the same thing over again.” Get the full story »
Oct. 21, 2010 at 5:41 p.m.
Filed under:
Fashion,
Retail
New York Times | London’s Kinder Aggugini will be the first designer to participate in a new program at Macy’s, which will rotate designer collections at 250 stores, including in Chicago, every two months to lure young shoppers. The collaborations begin in February.
Front Row
Macy’s Gets Fast Fashion
Published: October 20, 2010
ANY retailer on earth would just about die to create the kind of consumer craze that takes place when H & M introduces a discount designer collaboration (like the heavily touted one from Lanvin coming on Nov. 20). The high-low concept has worked well for Target, Gap and Uniqlo, but the latest store to delve into fast fashion is a bit unexpected in that it is the classically mainstream Macy’s.
Nick Harvey/WireImage
Kinder Aggugini, pictured with his mood board, is collaborating on a line for Macy’s.
Kinder Aggugini’s inspiration board.
Macy’s is expected to announce today that it will sell a series of limited-edition designer collections, beginning in February. Each will be on sale for about two months, until the next collaboration is announced. The first is by
Oct. 21, 2010 at 5:10 p.m.
Filed under:
Books,
Computers,
Media,
Retail
By Reuters
Barnes & Noble Inc. will ship its Nook electronic readers to 2,500 Wal-Mart stores this month to reach more shoppers ahead of the holiday season.
The devices will hit Wal-Mart shelves as soon as Oct. 24 and will be available on the discount chain’s Web site, the world’s largest bookstore chain said in a statement Thursday. Get the full story »
Oct. 21, 2010 at 4:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Investing,
Retail,
Sports
Crain’s Chicago Business | Starbucks has bought out the 50 percent stake of Earvin “Magic” Johnson in a venture designed to bring the coffee shops to underserved areas including Bronzeville.
Oct. 21, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.
Filed under:
Autos,
Retail
By Reuters
J.D. Power and Associates Thursday cut its forecast for 2011 U.S. total light vehicle sales, based on a slower economic recovery than expected.
Next year’s total light vehicle sales forecast was cut to 12.9 million vehicles from 13.2 million. Get the full story »
Oct. 20, 2010 at 11:01 p.m.
Filed under:
Retail
By Sandra M. Jones
Get out your coffee and your coupons. Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, is about to get bigger.
For the past several years, Black Friday has ranked as the largest shopping day of the year, in both sales and traffic. But analysts say a host of factors is converging to make it likely that Black Friday 2010 will set a record. Get the full story »
Oct. 20, 2010 at 2:05 p.m.
Filed under:
Bankruptcy,
Entertainment,
Investing,
Retail
By Reuters
A large group of Blockbuster Inc. shareholders is seeking a better offer for the bankrupt movie rental chain than the deal that would put billionaire Carl Icahn and a group of hedge funds in control.
Shareholder Greg Maggipinto said he and other investors who own up to 40 percent of the stock think Icahn’s deal, which would wipe out his holdings, undervalues the company. Get the full story »
Oct. 18, 2010 at 10:56 a.m.
Filed under:
Chicago executives,
Investing,
Retail,
Stock activity
By Reuters
J.C. Penney’s board approved a “poison pill” designed to fend off potential takeover threats after hedge fund manager William Ackman acquired one-sixth of the retailer. The company’s shares fell 3 percent on the news. Get the full story »
Oct. 15, 2010 at 3:40 p.m.
Filed under:
Litigation,
Retail,
Unions
By Reuters
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, on Friday said it was reviewing its options after a Canadian court ruled that a union properly won certification in a store in Saskatchewan. Get the full story »
Oct. 15, 2010 at 2:04 p.m.
Filed under:
Retail
From Crain’s Chicago Business | Apple Inc. plans to open its second city location, in Lincoln Park at 801 W. North Ave., at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 23.o the public next Saturday. It’s the Apple’s ninth store in the Chicago area. Get the full story>>
Oct. 14, 2010 at 10:48 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Packaged foods,
Retail
By Reuters
Shoppers at a Wal-Mart in Orland Hills, Ill. (David Pierini/Chicago Tribune)
Wal-Mart is planning to double the sales of fresh produce it sources from local farms in its U.S. stores by the end of 2015, part of a strategy to revamp its global produce supply chain.
The world’s largest retailer said it would also sell more than $1 billion each year in food sourced from 1 million small and medium-sized farms in emerging markets by the end of 2015. That would help increase income for those farmers by 10 to 15 percent in the same time frame, Wal-Mart said. Get the full story »
Oct. 13, 2010 at 4:37 p.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
Retail,
Unions,
Updated
By Sandra M. Jones
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to unveil Thursday free delivery of purchases made through its web site to Chicago FedEx offices — a move aimed at reaching urban consumers.
The world’s largest retailer launched the pilot program, called FedEx Site-to-Store, this summer in Boston and Los Angeles. The test expands this week to Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.. There will be 40 FedEx sites participating in the Chicago market, concentrated in the city with a smattering of sites in the suburbs, according to Wal-Mart spokesman Ravi Jariwala. Get the full story »
Oct. 13, 2010 at 11:43 a.m.
Filed under:
Retail,
Stock activity
By Reuters
U.S. drugstore chain Walgreen Co. said its board has approved a buyback of $1 billion shares and set a regular quarterly dividend. Get the full story »
Oct. 13, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
Filed under:
Jobs/employment,
Policy,
Politics,
Retail
By Reuters
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. won the right to open two more stores in Chicago this year, but does that mean the world’s largest retailer can eventually take Manhattan?
In remarks at the start of a two-day analyst meeting, Leslie Dach, Wal-Mart’s executive vice president for government affairs and corporate relations, said the retailer’s reputation has shown improvement with both consumers and elected officials. Get the full story »
Oct. 13, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.
Filed under:
Consumer electronics,
Investing,
Retail
By Associated Press
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s warehouse unit Sam’s Club will sell Apple’s iPad and iPhone.
The world’s largest retailer said at an investor meeting in Wednesday it is expanding Sam’s Club electronics and jewelry sections and will carry the popular tablet computer. Get the full story »
