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Report: Nike, Macy's, Lowe's face Black Friday snags; US online sales up 23% YOY

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Report: Nike, Macy's, Lowe's face Black Friday snags; US online sales up 23% YOY

TOP NEWS

* Shoppers at Nike Inc., Macy's Inc. and Lowe's Cos. Inc. suffered technical glitches during peak business hours of Nov. 24, The Wall Street Journal reported. Customers reportedly experienced issues when placing orders through the online portals of Nike and Lowe's, while Macy's shoppers faced credit card payment issues.

* Rakuten Inc.'s affiliate marketing unit, Rakuten Marketing, said 2017 U.S. online retail sales for Thanksgiving and Black Friday grew 23% year over year, driven by promotions. Online revenue on Thanksgiving rose 28% compared with the same period in 2016, while online revenue on Black Friday was up 21%.

TEXTILES, APPAREL AND LUXURY GOODS

* Italian eyewear company Luxottica Group SpA signed an agreement with the Italian revenue agency for tax relief from 2015 to 2019 through the country's Patent Box. The tax exclusion will benefit some of the retailer's brands and is valued at about €100 million for the first three years.

* Sephora, the cosmetics brand of French luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, plans to launch 14 additional exclusive brands in India over 2018 with six to eight stores forecast to open every year in the country, India's Mint reported. Sephora, which sells 23 unique brands in India, reportedly will open its next outlet in Kolkata by early December with a target of 50 outlets in the country's top 15 cities, the newspaper added.

* U.S. fashion retailer Kate Spade & Co. opened its 1,600-square-foot store at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, England, as planned, Retail Gazette reported. The boutique marks the company's fifth outlet in the U.K. and its first full-price shop outside London.

E-COMMERCE

* Chinese travel company Ctrip.com International Ltd. partnered with sightseeing tour operator Big Bus Tours Ltd. to offer outbound tourists more access to travel options and in-destination transportation services. The agreement makes Ctrip the first travel provider in China that will allow travelers to book directly with Big Bus Tours.

* Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten Inc. plans to buy more than 20% of U.S. cancer treatment startup Aspyrian Therapeutics as it seeks to launch a medical service that focuses on the niche market, the Nikkei Asian Review reported, citing CEO Hiroshi Mikitani. Exact financial terms were not disclosed.

HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL PRODUCTS

* Pola Orbis Holdings Inc.'s cosmetics unit Pola Skincare & Cosmetics apologized after images of an "inappropriate" sign targeting Chinese tourists, posted at one of its outlets, were circulated on Chinese social media, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. The Japanese company said it will "implement strict punishment" against the store but did not disclose the sign's content or the store location, the report added.

HYPERMARKETS AND SUPERCENTERS

* Supermarket operator Booths, whose chain of 28 stores is concentrated in the north of England, is looking for a buyer and could fetch between £130 million and £150 million, The Sunday Times reported. The family-run business reportedly called in advisers from financial services firm Rothschild & Co. to explore options.

* Supermarket chain operator Kroger Co. boosted its television and radio advertising campaign across 191 media markets in the U.S. to raise awareness about its Zero Hunger Zero Waste program. The U.S. company's media initiative, in partnership with Feeding America and World Wildlife Fund, will continue through the holiday season.

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES AND SPECIALTY RETAIL

* Sports Direct's shareholders will vote on Dec. 13 whether the CEO's older brother John Ashley will be reimbursed £11 million for missed remuneration, the Financial Times reported. The British sportswear retailer's board, which includes CEO Mike Ashley, will abstain from the vote. Mike Ashley expects shareholders to vote against the measure because of "passage of time involved," the Financial Times quoted him as saying.

* Home furnishing brand Cath Kidston Ltd. plans to nearly double its store count in Japan to about 55 outlets and strengthen its e-commerce capabilities, the Nikkei Asian Review reported, citing CEO Kenny Wilson. The London-based retailer reportedly said it also aims to increase store count in Thailand and South Korea but reduce the size of its low-profit Chinese business.

* Privately owned U.S. company Toys R Us will offer customers 15% discount for online purchases on Nov. 27 as part of its off-price sale on select items that runs from 7 a.m. Eastern time Nov. 25 to 5 a.m. on Dec. 1. The toy retailer also said that all stores will receive additional stocks beginning Nov. 26.

INDUSTRY NEWS

* Winter apparel sales in India rose 40% to 60% compared with 2015 and 2016 as companies in the northern parts of the country witnessed an early winter, The Economic Times of India reported. Pepe Jeans London's India Managing Director Kavindra Mishra reportedly said November sales across the national capital region were increasing the most at 60% year over year, while other locations also were experiencing a surge in sales.