E-Commerce Sales Affect Retail Warehouse Hiring for the Holidays

Staffing agencies for logistics companies and retailers are reporting having trouble hiring warehouse workers to stock holiday inventory. The need for warehouse workers has grown as online shopping sales have increased. Increased online ordering raises the difficulty of warehouse jobs requiring more picking, packing and higher volume work in the warehouses. Companies have had to… Read more »

Belk to be Purchased by Private Equity Firm for $3 Billion

Belk’s board of directors unanimously approved a merger with Sycamore Partners, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. Belk agreed to be 100% acquired in a transaction with an estimated value of approximately $3 billion. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk, Belk is the largest family-owned and operated department store in… Read more »

Is Erika going to be a bad girl?

Ten questions to get you started on a severe weather continuity plan. Tropical Storm Erika has caused at least 4 deaths and widespread flooding as she moves past Dominica and Puerto Rico.  The current forecast model cone suggests a path right over Florida with Miami impacted early Monday morning (31 Aug).  The model is uncertain… Read more »

Dillard’s Announces Better than Expected Q2 Earnings Results

Dillard’s announced its Q2 2015 earnings report on Thursday, with higher than expected results. Net sales rose 2.7% year over year to $1,513.8 million. Total revenue improved 2.5% from same period last year, reaching $1,550.8 million versus $1,512.9 in 2014. Merchandise same-store comparisons was up 1% from 2014. Categories that over performed were shoes, followed… Read more »

Nordstrom’s Announces Positive Q2 2015 Earnings Results

Nordstrom announced Thursday total net sales increased 9%, with comparable sales of $3.6 billion increasing 4.9 % over Q2 2014. Comparable sales increases by channel were: US stores up 0.8%, Nordstrom.com up 20%. Top performing merchandise categories were cosmetics and women’s apparel. Top performing regions were the Southwest and Southeast. Ending inventory increased 11% over… Read more »