Strategy

Regency Centers, in partnership with SoCore Energy and several of its retail partners, is outfitting two of its shopping centers in California with solar photovoltaic systems.

Regency announced the installation of over 750 KW of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at Persimmon Place, in Dublin, and East Washington Place in Petaluma. Combined, the systems include approximately 2,500 modules and are expected to produce over 1,200,000 kilowatt hours of clean and renewable electricity each year.

Restaurant operator Johnny Rockers is celebrating its 30th anniversary year — and reaching out to millennials — by giving itself a brand refresh.

The chain is best known for its 1950s diner look, complete with jukeboxes filled with oldies songs and dancing servers dressed in nostalgic soda-jerk uniforms. But it’s rolling out a new prototype that includes a much more modern-looking exterior and interior, a new logo, a more contemporary music soundtrack, and new uniforms for associates. Also on the bill: a self-serve ordering kiosk for to-go orders.

In a first, Tiffany & Co. will sell its jewelry online, on a site other than its own.

Tiffany has entered into a limited collaboration with online retailer Net-A-Porter to make select Tiffany items available for purchase on the global fashion site.

“With their recognized edit and fashion authority, Net-A-Porter will re-introduce Tiffany as more than the legendary jeweler, but an expression of personal style,” said Philippe Galtie, senior vice president of international sales at Tiffany & Co.

Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz recently touched down at Target Corp. headquarters in Minneapolis as part of Target’s series of “innovation speakers.” “With Starbucks, I dreamed of building a national brand and different kind of company, achieving balance between profit and conscience, bringing people along on the journey, and impacting the communities we serve,” Schultz said. “The kind of company my parents never got the chance to work for.

A controversial labor practice employed by some retailers is coming under increased scrutiny by U.S. regulators.

Promotions, markdowns and supply chain issues took a toll on Pier in the fourth quarter as the retailer lower profits on declining sales. But the results were better than earlier projections and executives expressed confidence in the chain’s turnaround efforts.

Pier 1’s sales declined 1.4% to $542.3 million in the quarter ended Feb. 27; same store sales fell 0.6%. Net income was $18.7 million, down from $33.1 million in the year-ago period.

It was probably inevitable that somebody at some point would challenge the legality of the Oct. 1, 2015 EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) liability shift.