Retail

Bloomberg Gump’s Holdings LLC,, the San Francisco retail landmark that survived the 1906 earthquake, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after succumbing to the rise of online shopping and shifting consumer habits. After years of losses, the 157-year-old Bay Area department store had been trying to find a buyer, or additional financing since May, to no avail. The closely held …

Bloomberg Excitement for the return of Dior’s equestrian-inspired Saddle bag line—which dominated the “it bag” era of the early 2000s alongside Balenciaga’s “Lariat” and the Fendi “Baguette” before being discontinued—has been bubbling up since designer Maria Grazia Chiuri put them in her runway show in February. Trendsetting models Bella Hadid and Elsa Hosk were soon spotted carrying vintage Saddle bags, …

Bloomberg Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. acquired Northwest Atlantic Inc., a Canadian retail-tenant representation and advisory firm, to feed the growing demand from retailers around the world looking to expand in Canada. Northwest Atlantic, a closely held company based in Toronto, represents more than 65 retailers including fashion retailer Nordstrom Inc., discount-apparel company Winners and movie-theater operator Cineplex Inc., and has …

Bloomberg A drawn-out sale process is never good for value, but in the case of Toys ‘R’ Us, the delayed auction of its brand name could constitute an existential threat to any long-shot comeback. That’s because the closer it gets to Christmas, the less likely any potential bidder for the chain’s intellectual property would have time to reboot the brand …

Bloomberg Kellogg Co.’s home market remains a challenge. The company posted second-quarter sales and profit that topped analysts’ estimates and raised its revenue forecast for the year. But struggles to ignite growth in its US cereal and snacks businesses damped investor enthusiasm. The shares fell as much as percent 3.8 percent to $66.79, the biggest intraday decline in three months. …

Bloomberg Synchrony Financial lost out to Capital One Financial Corp. for a credit-card contract with retail giant Walmart Inc. Now, the company is poised to defend its turf for a Walmart subsidiary. Capital One is interested in examining the Sam’s Club portfolio currently held by Synchrony, according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because …

Bloomberg Fired Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. workers took their travails to Congress to press for changes in the way private equity deals are structured. Potential US presidential candidates Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were among Democratic senators who met with former staff members and workers’ rights groups. The ex-employees are asking for new leverage limits …

Bloomberg Lotte Group, reeling from a wave of anti-Korean sentiment in China for more than a year, is considering selling some of its department stores in the country, a move that would accelerate the conglomerate’s withdrawal from the world’s second-largest economy. The sale of some of Lotte Shopping Co.’s five malls is among options being reviewed in the country, a …

Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc. investors have traditionally given it a pass on money-losing quarters and narrow profit margins so long as revenue growth kept surpassing expectations. That dynamic flipped, propelling the 24-year-old company into a potentially steadier phase. Amazon reported a record second-quarter profit of $2.53 billion, or $5.07 per share. The Seattle-based company has generated net income of $4.16 billion …

Bloomberg L’Oreal SA posted disappointing sales of mass-market cosmetics, triggering a slide in the share price even as buoyant Chinese demand lifted revenue from high-end products. The French beauty conglomerate’s sales of consumer brands such as Maybelline rose at a less-than-stellar pace of 2.3 percent in the second quarter, the company said. While L’Oreal turned in a much stronger performance …