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January 24, 2014 The Home Depot has acquired Blinds.com, the Houston-based online window coverings retailer.  In explaining the appeal of the partnership, Home Depot cited Blinds.com’s integrated user experience, on-demand staff and knowledge base. “We’re delighted to welcome the Blinds.com team into The Home Depot family,” said Home Depot chairman and CEO Frank Blake.  “The... Read more »

January 21, 2014 Nordstrom plans to open its third fulfillment center at Conewago Industrial Park in Elizabethtown, PA, in summer 2015.  The approximately 672,000 sq. ft. building, with an additional 470,000 sq. ft. mezzanine, will enable faster delivery for Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom mobile app and Nordstrom catalog orders. In its first three years, the new fulfillment... Read more »

January 23, 2014 Hudson’s Bay Company plans to launch a new mobile shopping application for both Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor.  HBC is partnering with Pounce, a consumer-facing mobile app, to integrate traditional media with m-commerce, providing customers the opportunity to purchase merchandise displayed in print media using tablets and smartphones.  According to Pounce,... Read more »

January 15, 2014 In an effort to expand its service capabilities, Lowe’s has partnered with Porch.com, a home improvement network that connects homeowners with over 1.5 million professionals.  The partnership aims to connect customers with home improvement pros for nearly any project outside of what Lowe’s currently offers as part of its installation services.  “Working... Read more »

January 24, 2014 Dillard’s, Inc. announced today that it will make a significant contribution of more than $1 million to local chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities.  This donation was made possible through the sale of Dillard’s exclusive Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. For the sixth time, Dillard’s offered a special custom edition of the Southern... Read more »

January 23, 2014 February 2014 is projected to be the coldest in four years and drier than last year for the U.S. as a whole.  Much colder year-on-year trends will be widespread at the start of the month, especially across the Central U.S.  The axis of colder temperatures shifts to the Northern Tier of the... Read more »

January 23, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.1 percent in December to 99.4, following a 1.0 percent increase in November, and a 0.1 percent increase in October. “Despite month-to-month volatility in the final quarter of 2013, the U.S. LEI continues to point to gradually strengthening economic conditions through early... Read more »

January 22, 2014 Hudson’s Bay Company’s CFO Michael Culhane is reportedly taking a leave of absence from the company.  Assuming the CFO role will be Donald Watros, who on February 1 will be stepping into his new role as president of the company. HBC did not provide further details on Culhane or the CFO position.... Read more »

The National Retail Federation recapped Holiday 2013 in a PR… and sales were pretty good.  It remains to be seen however how profits fair due to heavy discounting.  The next quarterly filings by retailers will tell that tale.  Holiday Retail Sales Come in at NRF ExpectationsSales Increased 3.8% to $601.8 Billion; NRF Projected 3.9% to... Read more »