Retail Briefs

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/30/2006 12:00:00 AM

Mervyns Will Exit Two More States

Mervyns will shutter 20 stores by Feb. 2007, including all 19 locations in Oregon and Washington.

Last September the company announced it would close 62 underperforming stores and exit Michigan and Oklahoma by Feb. 2006. The plan was to focus on the core of better-performing stores in 10 states. The new round of closings will pare the chain down to 170 stores in eight states: California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

The company says it will spend more than $100 million to improve infrastructure over the next few years. New store openings are also planned.

JCPenney.com Hits $1 Billion in Annual Sales

J. C. Penney said that its Web site, jcpenney.com, has reached a cyber-milestone: $1 billion in annual sales, achieved on Friday, Jan. 13. The e-commerce site has been up and running since 1994.

More than 300,000 items are featured on the site (17,000 SKUs in window coverings alone), which is part of JCPenney Direct, built on the foundation of the retailer's long-standing mail order catalog business. The Web site is also keyed into brick-and-mortar activity, with an ongoing rollout of in-store kiosks that expand the in-stock position, product customization and style selections available to shoppers.

Williams-Sonoma Home Store to Open in Portland

Williams-Sonoma will add a fourth location to its upscale, textiles-friendly Williams-Sonoma Home test concept, with the opening this year of a 16,000-square-foot store on Northwest 23rd Avenue here.

The product assortment features upholstered furniture in several dozen models offered across 100 fabric selections. The range also includes lighting, tableware and an emphasis on handcrafted wood furniture.

Williams-Sonoma operates 571 stores under seven nameplates; Williams-Sonoma Home comprises a mail-order catalog, launched in fall 2004, and three retail locations, which began opening in September 2005.