Fury and frustration over Target data breach
Potential victims of credit card fraud tied to Target's security breach said they had trouble contacting the discounter through its website and call centers.
Retail
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Rebranding of bird-food retail chain ups emphasis on core product
Wild Birds Unlimited recently unveiled a new marketing program encompassing everything from revamped store design to new staff training to a rebalancing of the product line. The idea was to place less emphasis on gift items and more on the store’s core product—birdseed.
Holiday shopping season: A disappointment so far
Sparse crowds at malls and "50 percent off" signs at The Gap and other stores offer clues as to how this holiday season is shaping up so far: It's the most discount-driven one since the U.S. was in a deep recession.
Well-known auto dealer O’Brien dies at 82
In an auto-sales career spanning more than 50 years, Tom O'Brien built on a single dealership started by his father and created a multi-dealership business that today includes 16 family members.
Simon plans for spinoff get warm reception from Wall Street
After recently stalling on the stock market, shares of Simon Property Group perked up in trading Friday after the massive local firm announced plans to spin off nearly 100 retail centers into a new firm. Analysts approved of the move.
Indy-based Simon spinoff will include 13 Indiana centers
The locally based retail giant confirmed Friday morning that its new spinoff will be headquartered in Indianapolis. Several of Simon’s properties in the area will be among the new portfolio, including Clay Terrace in Carmel.
Tesla car dealership debuts at Fashion Mall
The store at the Fashion Mall at Keystone features a design center where customers configure and order their cars.
Local restaurant owners settle case of pizzeria plagiarism
Napolese pizzeria and Crust Pizzeria Napoletana have quietly reached an agreement outside of court. Napolese owner Martha Hoover filed an intellectual property lawsuit against Crust owner Mohey Osman in October.
Shares of Indiana retailers surge in 2013
Shares of The Finish Line Inc., HHGregg Inc. and Shoe Carnival Inc. have been on a tear this year, rebounding to outperform the major stock indexes and rising at least 40 percent in value through the first of December. By comparison, the S&P 500 has gained about 28 percent.
Cyber Monday still growing despite earlier online sales
Shoppers bought online at the heaviest rate ever Monday, according to research firm comScore Inc. The strong performance was in contrast to Black Friday weekend spending, which fell an estimated 2.9 percent.
Supreme Court won’t hear appeal over Internet taxation
The move likely will prompt more states to attempt to collect taxes on Internet sales — and ignite a furious battle in Congress between Internet sellers, brick-and-mortar stores and states hungry for extra tax revenue.
Record shopping crowds over weekend, but spending falls
Retailers got Americans into stores during the start to the holiday shopping season. Now, they'll need to figure out how to get them to actually buy things.
Pizza Hut offers job back to man who refused to work Thanksgiving
The pizza chain's corporate office issued a statement saying it respects an employee's right to not work on the holiday and that the store owner has agreed to reinstate the employee.
Westfield gearing up for big hospitality play
Westfield’s massive Grand Park Sports Campus doesn’t open until March, but city leaders already are focused on making sure the 1 million-plus visitors they expect next year want to come back.
Holiday sales could ride on lower gasoline prices
Many retail analysts have forecast a ho-hum sales gain of about 2 percent this year; others predict an increase of up to 3.9 percent. But steadily cheaper gas could send holiday sales shooting above 5.4 percent, analysts say.
Mass Ave retailers about to pop up in Carmel
A band of Mass Ave merrymakers are heading north for the holidays, opening a pop-up shop in downtown Carmel.
Finish Line shares continue climb after upgrade
Two investment analysts raised their ratings for Finish Line on Monday, saying the Indianapolis-based athletic shoe and clothing retailer has the opportunity for margin recovery and a stronger online performance.
New Carmel company to boot J.C. Penney off S&P 500
J.C. Penney, which is trying to bounce back from its worst sales year in two decades, will be replaced by Carmel-based electronic security company Allegion, which is being spun off by Irish industrial conglomerate Ingersoll-Rand Plc.
Americans reluctant to spend on holidays without big deals
Since the recession began in late 2007, stores have had to offer financially-strapped Americans ever bigger price cuts just to get them into stores. But those discounts eat away at profit.
Northwest Indiana restaurants part of El Rodeo raids
The raids at La Carreta restaurants in Merrillville and Schererville were part of a larger investigation that targeted El Rodeo restaurants in the Indianapolis area, Lafayette, West Lafayette and Richmond.