Strategy

Little Rock, Ark. -- New England Development opened Outlets of Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Oct. 16. The center welcomed thousands of area residents and visitors to shop at Arkansas’ only outlet center.

The newest destination for shopping in the region is home to first-to-market fashion retailers: Under Armour, Asics, Bass Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Cole Haan, Levi's Outlet Store, Lindt Chocolate Shop, Restoration Hardware and Skechers.

Retailers should continually re-invent the in-store experience to keep up with changing consumer needs.

That is one of the key imperatives for growth identified in a new retail index and executive survey, “Reigniting Growth: Three Imperatives for Retail’s Future,” by SAP SE.

Sportsman's Warehouse is growing its store presence out West.

The retailer will open a store in Slidell, Louisiana, its first in the state, and another in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Louisiana store will be located in the Rouse Shopping Center, and is expected to open in early 2016.

The store in Las Cruces will be located on Telshore Boulevard and is expected to open in the summer of 2016.

It’s not like the holidays weren’t going to be challenging enough, but now Amazon.com is expanding its free same-day delivery service to more markets.

Amazon.com said it expanded it Prime free same-day delivery to Chicago and Orlando and new locations in the greater New York, northern New Jersey and Philadelphia area. The service, which does require an annual $99 Prime membership fee, is now available in 750 cities in 16 metropolitan areas. It launched in May.

The International Council of Shopping Centers is among the groups endorsing proposed legislation that seeks to limit what it called an “unintended consequence” of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Simon on Wednesday broke ground on Clarksburg Premium Outlets, in Montgomery County, Maryland.

This multi-million dollar project, which upon completion, will offer a collection of over 90 retailers. The center, scheduled to open in October 2016, is a joint venture between Simon, New England Development, and Streetscape Partners.

Located in one of the country's highest-income regions, and only 30 miles from the Washington, D.C., metro area, the center will feature 392,000 sq. ft. of leasable space.

Abercrombie & Fitch continues its efforts to polish its brand image.

The retailer announced that Jeanetta Darno has joined the company as VP of diversity and inclusion in a role that will include “enhancing the existing global diversity and inclusion best practices throughout the organization.”

Dunkin’ Donuts announced new locations as it works towards its goal of opening 410 to 440 net new restaurants in 2015.

The chain announced multi-unit store development agreements totaling 24 new restaurants over the next several years in Minnesota with two franchise groups, Kod Kod Enterprises, LLC, and existing franchise group, VANTive Group.

The Bon-Ton Stores announced it will close its Elder-Beerman stores in the Huntington Mall in Huntington, West Virginia and the Lima Mall in Lima, Ohio. The retailer said it will not renew the stores’ leases, which terminate January 31, 2016.

Additionally, Bon-Ton is closing its namesake store in the Carousel Center in Syracuse, New York, upon its scheduled lease termination on February 28, 2016.

The company said it does not expect costs associated with the closing of the locations to be material.

Williams-Sonoma has entered into an agreement with Mexico’s leading department store retailer to open stores in that country.

Williams-Sonoma said it will open 13 stores across its various brands — Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen and West Elm — In Mexico City, by the end of 2015. The stores are opening through a franchise partnership with Mexican department store retailer Liverpool.