Supreme Court sides with crafts store in health care case

Crafts retailer Hobby Lobby and other "closely held" companies won’t have to provide coverage for certain kinds of birth control they find objectionable for religious reasons.

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2014

Report: Some customers will pay more for sustainable products

Sales of products with social good marketing increased an average 5% annually, according to the study. 

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2014

Will Amazon's Fire phone burn its retail competition?

Amazon’s new phone is set up to hurt other retailers, but who's buying it?

By Daphne Howland • July 1, 2014

Dollar General CEO announces retirement

The discount retailer’s chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling will retire in 2015, or sooner if a successor is found before then.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2014

Canadian Supreme Court rules Wal-Mart store closing unlawful

The retailer violated Quebec’s labor code when it shut down a store during labor negotiations in 2005.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2014

Key American Apparel creditor may call in loan

U.K.’s Lion Capital has supported now-ousted CEO Dov Charney in the past.

By Daphne Howland • June 27, 2014

Q1 GDP dips lower than first estimates

First quarter gross domestic product shrank an unexpected 2.9%, largely due to unanticipated health care spending declines.

By Daphne Howland • June 27, 2014

In retail, you don't always 'dance with the one that brung ya'

What makes a retail company oust the person who is its raison d’être?

By Daphne Howland • June 27, 2014

Ikea to hike US minimum wage by 17%

The Swedish retailer will increase the average hourly minimum pay for half of its U.S. employees.

By Daphne Howland • June 26, 2014

FAA says no to commercial drones

The regulatory agency clarified its policy to ban the use of what it calls “model aircraft” for business purposes.

By Daphne Howland • June 26, 2014

Fair trade retailers have big impact on social media

Image-heavy sites like Instagram and Pinterest help retailers communicate stories that are part of their brand.

By Daphne Howland • June 26, 2014

UPDATE: Michaels IPO Raises $472M

The arts-and-crafts retailer raised close to its $500 million goal. Michaels said on Thursday it had raised about $472.6 million in its initial public offering after pricing shares at $17, the lower end of an expected range. The $17 per share price values the arts and crafts retailer at up to $3.45 billion.

By Daphne Howland • June 26, 2014

Gap reports rise in applicants after wage hike

Many applicants are arriving with retail experience from companies that don’t pay as well.

By Daphne Howland • June 25, 2014

Etsy buys French online marketplace for $100m

The acquisition is the largest yet for the quirky, Brooklyn-based e-commerce site of all things artisanal.

By Daphne Howland • June 25, 2014

Report: Retail marketing must go beyond counting pageviews

With new methods to get and measure consumers’ attention, focusing on the pageview is becoming a useless habit, according to Contently.

By Daphne Howland • June 25, 2014

Barnes & Noble to split book-selling, digital businesses

The move comes as the company’s losses shrink, and after a deal with Samsung to revive the Nook business.

By Daphne Howland • June 25, 2014

Target smooths out free online shipping

Nearly all items are now counted toward the $50 minimum, eliminating a confusing situation for many customers.

By Daphne Howland • June 24, 2014

Loan gives J.C. Penney some wiggle room

A new credit line will make financing its debt easier and is a sign that its lenders believe the retailer’s future has grown a bit brighter.

By Daphne Howland • June 23, 2014

Retail groups call swipe fee settlement a 'mistake'

Two leading retail groups are asking an appeals court to overturn federal court approval of a settlement.

By Daphne Howland • June 19, 2014

American Apparel board votes to oust CEO

Citing unspecified misconduct, the board said it aims to fire founder Dov Charney after a required 30 day cure period.

By Daphne Howland • June 19, 2014

Patent office cancels Redskins trademark

The Washington team’s name has faced increasing opposition by people who find it racist, and there are implications for retailers.

By Daphne Howland • June 18, 2014

Apple settles e-book pricing claims

But details aren’t yet available, and the agreement requires court approval.

By Daphne Howland • June 17, 2014

Some retailers to list unit prices online

Amazon is not participating, but Walmart.com, Costco, and others will.

By Daphne Howland • June 17, 2014

Judge slams JC Penney in Martha Stewart ruling

Stating that Penney's behavior was both "adolescent" and "sophomoric," the judge ruled against the retailer in the case filed in 2012.

By Daphne Howland • June 17, 2014

Pinners never quit and quitters never pin: Retail's Pinterest success

Facebook continues to dominate in number of users, but Pinterest is emerging as a dynamic social network that wins retail customers over.

By Daphne Howland • June 17, 2014