Strategy

Online consignment marketplace Swap.com is expanding into women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.

Executives with Swap.com said the new women’s collection will launch with more than 25,000 items.

“The expansion into women’s apparel is not just about making it easier for our customers to buy and sell their gently loved clothes and handbags,” said Jesse Gonzalez, merchandising manager at Swap.com. “It’s also about offering the fashionable looks that our customers love, at a better deal than you can find in-stores.”

Bentonville, Ark. -- Shoppers interested in purchasing products from women-owned companies will find it easier to do so at Walmart with the introduction of a new logo and related promotional effort. The new initiative launched March 11 will see a unique logo featured on retail packaging of products from women-owned businesses, available both in-store and online.

By Hayden Shipp, IBISWorld

Shippers, carriers, longshoremen, businesses and consumers alike can breathe a sigh of relief in light of the tentative deal the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) reached on Feb. 20.

New York -- Triple Five Group,  the company that owns and manages the nation’s largest shopping center, Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., and the largest one in North America, West Edmonton Mall, Alberta (Canada), is looking to build its largest center yet. The company has proposed a sprawling mega-mall and entertainment destination near Miami Lakes in Northwest Miami-Dade County. As outlined in an article in the Miami Herald, the project would include a Legoland and an indoor ski slope.

Seattle – American innovation has been heading west since the development of the extra-durable Conestoga wagon in the 1700s. On March 17, Starbucks will continue the pioneer tradition by expanding its mobile order & pay system to the Pacific Northwest.

The mobile payment feature allows Starbucks mobile app users to place their order in advance and pick it up at a selected Starbucks location. It is seamlessly integrated into the Starbucks app and loyalty program.

Faced with dwindling expansion opportunities for traditional department stores, Macy is looking to significantly grow standalone beauty stores following its recently completed acquisition of the 60 unit specialty beauty retailer Bluemercury.

Philadelphia -- Tween and teen retailer Five Below will open three stores in Alabama, its first ever in the state, on March 13.

The stores, which average 7,500 sq.-ft. each, are located in Huntsville, Florence and Gadsden.

"Entering Alabama is an important next step as we continue to grow our footprint across the country," said Joel Anderson, CEO of Five Below. "We're excited to open the first of what we hope to be many stores in this great state.”  

Grapevine, Texas – GameStop Corp. is launching a nationwide rollout of Apple Pay to its more than 4,200 U.S. video game stores this month. In GameStop stores, Apple Pay will work with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the upcoming Apple Watch.