Retail

Bloomberg The coronavirus outbreak has stalled American retailers’ e-commerce growth, sparked traffic declines and pushed many to lower quarterly guidance, according to a survey published on Wednesday by CommerceNext, which organises conferences for retail and direct-to-consumer marketers. Since mid-February, when coronavirus began impacting the US, about half of retailers said their e-commerce traffic has been trending downward. This is a ...

Bloomberg Australian retail sales soared by the most on record in March as households embarked on a buying frenzy, led by massive purchases of toilet paper, ahead of an expected lockdown to contain the coronavirus. Preliminary sales advanced 8.2% last month, exceeding the previous record of 8.1% ahead of the introduction of a consumption tax in 2000, the Australian Bureau ...

Bloomberg Gap Inc is in discussions to issue new bonds backed by assets including real estate as one financing option to get it through the coronavirus pandemic, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The talks with investors and banks would be for bonds backed by inventory and certain properties including distribution centres, the people said, asking not to ...

Bloomberg Zilingo, a fashion technology platform backed by Temasek Holdings Pte, has cut 5% of its 900-strong global workforce as part of a strategy to refocus on Asia and emerging markets, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Singapore-based startup dismissed 44 employees, including about 30 in the city-state, according to the person, who asked not to be ...

Bloomberg Macy’s Inc is exploring ways to use its real estate to secure fresh cash and ride out the coronavirus pandemic. The department store would issue new bonds backed by certain property and other assets to bolster its liquidity, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The Herald Square property wouldn’t be included. The interest rate and maturity of ...

Bloomberg Shanghai Pehchaolin Daily Chemical Co, a Chinese skincare company that owns the 89-year-old premium beauty brand Pechoin, is in talks with potential investors for a minority stake sale, according to people familiar with the situation. Shanghai Pehchaolin has received interest from prospective investors including some private equity firms, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the ...

Bloomberg JC Penney Co, its stores shut and revenue all but extinguished by the pandemic, is continuing to huddle with creditors about how to avert a default after it skipped an interest payment. The struggling chain is seeking their agreement for a deal that would keep it out of bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Management is using ...

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc is hitting back at activists within its own ranks, terminating three employees who had criticised working conditions in its warehouses. The retailer confirmed that it had fired Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa for violating company policy. The two employees, who worked at Seattle headquarters, had taken to Twitter recently to voice concerns about the treatment of workers ...

Bloomberg A Swiss retailer is crying foul after a truckload of hand sanitiser it had ordered was commandeered by Italian customs officers. The shipment of disinfectant gel, purchased by Victory Switzerland GmbH for 32,000 euros ($34,800), was stopped by officials on March 30, according to Daniel Gerber, the company’s managing director. “I am not aware of any compensation for us,” ...

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc was handed a French ban on sales of non-essential items after losing the first round of a court fight with labour unions who said the company wasn’t doing enough to protect staff from the Covid-19 pandemic. Amazon said in a statement it’s appealing the ruling, a move that suspends the court’s decision. The world’s biggest online retailer ...