Strategy

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Kansas City, Mo. -- Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation headquarter in Kansas City, Missouri, has named Stacey Paine as its new president.

Paine will replace Bill Lucas who is retiring at year-end after serving 20 years as the president of Crown Center, an 85-acre mixed-use community, privately financed by Hallmark Cards, Inc., that combines 2.2 million sq. ft. of office space, retail, hotels, residential and entertainment attractions within its boundaries.

Amid a slew of news from Target headquarters on Monday, the retailer also announced that, as part of the White House’s climate pledge, it would be working toward eight new sustainability commitments.

Rite Aid on Tuesday celebrates the grand re-opening of its store at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Baltimore Tuesday. The store has been operating out of a temporary trailer after sustaining significant damage during the protests that rocked the city last spring.

Joining Rite Aid executive VP Bryan Everett at the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Chicago -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation announced it will exclusively represent Loyola University Chicago on their entire retail portfolio on the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses in Chicago, as well as the retail at the base of a proposed Hampton Inn hotel.

Chicago-based Lakeside Management, NFP manages Loyola’s retail assets totaling nearly 110,000 sq. ft. and will be working closely with Mid-America.