Store Front: Linens 'n Things Signs Celebrity Gift Expert
Linens 'n Things signs an exclusive relationship with celebrity wedding and event planner Mindy Weiss to provide tips for retail shoppers through online interaction, as well as in-store appearances and events. Weiss will act as the retailer's bridal and gift registry expert and will provide shoppers with gift ideas for brides-to-be, both online and in-store. GSI Commerce provides the e-commerce platform for the retailer, including a Web commerce engine, site administration, site infrastructure and hosting, order management and business intelligence.
Timex Ticks Online
Timex chooses Amazon Service's Enterprise Solution to develop and manage its new Web site. Amazon Services will host the Timex Web site and use Amazon technology to power the online business. The site will offer Amazon technologies including one-step checkout, search and navigation, personalization, ordering and payments, wish lists and recommendations.
Apparel Stores Rack Up Big Sales in April
Publicly held apparel and accessory retailers recorded significant sales gains in April and same store sales growth over the previous year. Abercrombie & Fitch reported a 30.4 percent sales change and a 17.0
percent increase in same-store sales versus the
same month in 2005. Only two other apparel retailers recorded a greater than 30 percent sales increase: Zumiez, at 42.9 percent, and Citi Trends, at 76.1
percent. Other retailers with more-than 20 percent sales increases include Ann Taylor, American Eagle Outfitters, Aeropostale, The Children's Place, Guess?, Pacific Sunwear, Stage Stores and Wet Seal.
Industry News
Macys.com, retailer of fashion and affordable luxury items, gains marketing and customer insight by using SSA Global's Outbound Marketing€¦Kroger installs TNR Entertainment self-service DVD rental kiosks in an additional 84 locations throughout the Dallas/metropolitan area. The kiosks operate on a wireless communications network and DVD kiosk operating system€¦
Harris Teeter adopts Pay By Touch biometric technology in its stores located in Wilmington to reduce the amount of time shoppers spend in checkout lines€¦ Rooms to Go has invested $1.4 million in Dell retail hardware and services to help manage growth at its more than 100 stores. The retailer will install more than 1,200 Dell OptiPlex SX280 desktop computers with all-in-one 17-inch LCD flat screen monitors as point-of-sale registers€¦
Roots, a North American lifestyle brand, announces the availability of an electronic gift card program in 130 retail locations across the United States and Canada. Technology for the gift cards is provided by Ernex, a division of Moneris Solutions. Advance Auto Parts, retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items, selects Unicru Retail Solution to lower hiring costs and improve the level of experience, competence and productivity of its workforce€¦
Wal-Mart customers can receive broadband, digital video and voice services through Comcast in approximately 500 Wal-Mart locations across the Comcast national footprint. Wal-Mart customers will be able to purchase an integrated broadband kit, which combines a Motorola SB5120 modem and Comcast's self-install kit€¦
Bed Bath & Beyond licenses Lawson Software's financials and procurement suites to enhance its financial reporting capabilities, streamline purchasing processes and support long-term growth€¦
Lowe's installs ADT Sensormatic SmartEAS alarm management system chain-wide to help provide a detailed analysis of anti-theft alarm incidents across its more than 1,225 home improvement stores nationwide. ADT Security Services, a unit of Tyco Fire & Security, will install SmartEAS units at all Lowe's entrances and exits during the two-year rollout€¦
The National Football League (NFL) signs an agreement with GSI Commerce to enhance its marketing services for the NFLShop.com Web site€¦
The Bailian Group will use VeriSign's EPCglobal Network, which enables automatic identification and visibility of product information, to track merchandise as it moves through the company's global supply chain.