Strategy

When Macy’s announced in early September that it planned to close between 35 and 40 underperforming stores, the move certainly made headlines. Unfortunately for Macy’s, it also made sense. Because, as most analysts and industry observers can attest, it only reaffirmed a storyline that has been developing for many years now: department stores are in trouble.

Sephora and Ulta are successful retailers in their own right, but Bluemercury founder Barry Beck wants to chart a different growth path for the company Macy’s acquired earlier this year.

When Macy’s announced in February it was buying beauty retailer Bluemercury, a lot of watchers wondered what the little-known niche retailer could offer the nation’s second largest department store chain. The answer to that question lies in something the founder of Bluemercury calls “exceptionalism.”

The Oakland Raiders professional football team needs to communicate more than plays and formations.

The Raiders operate 12 Raider Image retail stores throughout California, an online store and a corresponding fulfillment center. Effective voice and data communications are critical for streamlined coordination and ideal performance in these locations.

Twenty-three year SPECS attendee Randy Pannell, VP of construction for Saks Fifth Avenue, shares his thoughts on SPECS, Chain Store Age’s annual store planning/construction and facilities conference, which will be held March 13-15, 2016, in Dallas. For more on the event, click here.

Why do you attend SPECS each year?
To be honest, in the early years, SPECS was really just a trade show to me. But I soon realized that it was more than that. It really worked!

Online fashion retailer ModCloth removed the “plus size” section from its site, opting to mix the items in with its regularly-sized items for a more “inclusive” shopping experience, Today.com reported. Company co-founder Susan Gregg Koger said, “as we think about a potentially permanent shop, we know we're not going to have a separate plus-size section.”

There’s an artsy home linens player in town, and comes complete with a French accent.

French home décor and lifestyle brand Madura, best known for its artful and colorful decorative pillows, has opened a flagship in New York City’s Flatiron neighborhood. It’s the opening salvo in the family-run company’s expansion efforts in the United States.

Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in West Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Oct. 10.

The 26,000-sq.-ft. store is located in Westfork Plaza.

With this new location, Ross will operate 153 stores in Florida. The opening is part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.

An executive who played a key role in helping Publix deliver on its “where shopping is a pleasure” brand promise has stepped down after nearly half a century with one of the nation’s best supermarket operators.

David Bridges, VP of fresh product business development at Publix will retire effective Jan. 1, 2016 and his role will be filled by Chris Litz who currently serves as a regional director of Publix Atlanta Division.

Sarasota, Fla. -- Taubman Centers celebrates two milestones for The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, Florida.

Oct. 16 marks the one year anniversary for the property and it has recently been named “Best Retail Development, Florida” by the International Property Awards and on.

Photo: Steve Bratspies