Author: Christina Cheddar Berk

Flash-sale websites such as Gilt Groupe and Ru La La were hailed as disruptors in the ecommerce space, but recently there’s been a bit of a disruption in their success story, prompting some to wonder if flash-sale sites are more of a marketing gimmick than a sustainable business model.    Read More

Worries about fuel prices are trumping concerns about unemployment for U.S. retailers, according to a BDO USA study. Unemployment had been a larger retailer concern since 2009.    Read More

If you don’t know what a “beauty balm” or “blemish balm” is yet, chances are you will soon.  Sales of the products, which are also known as BB creams, have grown significantly in the past several months, according to a new report from market researcher NPD Group. And it’s no wonder, as the creams blend together the benefits of several beauty products all in one — a plus for time-pressed women.    Read More

Employee turnover levels at retailers are on the rise, particularly among part-time store workers and positions tied to the booming ecommerce sector, according to the findings of a new survey by global management firm Hay Group.    Read More

Better times may be ahead for U.S. beverage stocks, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian. He upgraded his rating on the beverage sector to “attractive” from “in-line,” citing improving trends for carbonated beverages.   Read More

Flavored versions of vodkas have been popular for years, but now flavored whiskies are gaining ground. The trend also helped Jim Beam, who has gotten a boost from its Jim Beam Red Stag brand. Beam posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday.    Read More

Since the second quarter began, the number of shoppers at retail stores has been on the rise, according to ShopperTrak. That’s good news for retailers, who see higher store traffic as an opportunity to turn browsers into buyers. The group sees traffic increasing as the year progresses.    Read More

Although consumers have been steadily shifting to private-label foods and beverages, the shift may be born out of necessity rather than a deliberate choice on the part of the consumer, according to the findings of a new report from NPD Group.   Read More

Consumers are expected to spend an average of $152.52 on Mother's Day gifts, up about 8 percent from $140.73 last year, according to a survey conducted by BigInsight on behalf of retail industry trade group, the National Retail Federation. Total spending should reach $18.6 billion.    Read More

There has been a lot of criticism of Best Buy in the wake of the unexpected resignation of CEO Brian Dunn, but at least one industry analyst thinks that much of the criticism has been ill-informed and “fact lite.”   Read More