Strategy

Wal-Mart Stores keeps upping its investment in JD.com.   The discounter has increased its stake in the Chinese online company to 12.1%, (worth about $4.87 billion), from the 10.8% stake it had in October, and the 5.9% stake it had in June of last year, according to a report by Business Insider.  

Warby Parker is making a big commitment to brick-and-mortar.    The hip eyewear retailer plans to open at least 25 stores this year, The Wall Street Journal reported.   The new locations, planned for Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other cities, are expected to bring Warby Parker’s total store count to about 70 by year end.    The stores will range in size and include freestanding as well as mall locations, the report said. 

To keep up the pace of its growth — and continue delivering merchandise to the right location at the right time — The Aldo Group is adding a new supply chain platform.   The footwear brand operates a complex omnichannel supply chain that supports wholesale customers, franchise and company-owned retail locations, as well as its direct-to-consumer operations. This requires enterprise-wide visibility, as well as the flexibility to anticipate, plan for and respond to changing consumer preferences.  

Some 100 locals from tony Southampton, New York, gathered outside Town Hall yesterday to show their support for the building of a grocery-anchored center in the Tuckahoe neighborhood, according to Newsday.   Demonstrators wearing “Yes Tuckahoe Shopping Center” T-shirts argued that the King Kullen supermarket proposed for the project would give them easier access to affordable groceries.  

Disparate systems have no place in the age of “on demand” shopping.   To continue serving its increasingly demanding shoppers — and fuel its continued expansion — Smart & Final is replacing its homegrown solutions with an integrated end-to-end merchandising, planning and execution solution from JDA Software Group.   

The nation’s leading home storage products retailer is going to try on a smaller footprint.      The Container Store Group on Tuesday said it plans to open locations in Cleveland; Livingston, New Jersey; and Staten Island, New York, as well as relocate its store in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.      

Off-price giant TJX Cos. stands to gain traffic from the planned shutterings of select Macy’s and Kmart stores this year.    A study by Foursquare indicates that T.J. Maxx will gain traffic from Kmart store closings, while Marshalls will benefit from Macy’s closings, reported Boston Business Journal. Both banners are owned by TJX Cos.  

Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento released its annual sales report this week and verified the fact that not all traditional malls are on the endangered list.   The 1,112,000-sq.-ft. property, owned by Arden Fair Associates and managed by Macerich, showed consistent month to month growth through 2016, capped by a 10% year-over-year sales increase in December, according to the accounting.