Strategy

Despite the growing popularity of online shopping, millions of consumers will flock to the stores this Black Friday. According to a recent study from WD Partners, "Amazon Can't Do That: Consumer Desire & the Store of the Future,” 79% of consumers rank instant ownership as a top factor in influencing how they shop.

Other store-friendly top influencers include sensory experience and product immersion (75%), emotional experience of interacting with live human beings, community, and personal service.

New York -- Since 2009, retail sales at North America’s 205 outlet centers have increased from $19.9 billion to $27.6 billion, an increase of $7.7 billion, according to an International Council of Shopping Centers report.

Six publicly traded REITs with notable outlet center portfolios have benefited from outlet center success, according to SNL Financial. They are:

PetSmart’s third quarter results benefited from consumers who continue spending money on their pets despite a still-challenging consumer environment.

The company’s earnings per share jumped 17.3% to $0.88 from $0.75 in the third quarter of 2012. Net income totaled $92 million for the quarter, compared to $82 million in last year’s third quarter.

Southfield, Mich. – Shopper marketing agency Mars Advertising is partnering with digital creative agency Nomadic Agency to collaboratively identify and strategically integrate omni-channel solutions to continue providing enhanced shopper value throughout the path to purchase.

New York – Ann Inc. reported better-than-expected income and sales for the third quarter. The retailer Ann Inc. posted third-quarter earnings of $41.2 million, compared to $40.7 million in the year-earlier quarter.  

Net sales grew 7% to $657.3 million from $612.5 million. Total same-store sales increased 3.7%. By brand, same-store sales inched up 0.6% at Ann Taylor and 5.6% at Loft. However, sales fell 6.9% in the Ann Taylor Factory channel.

Bucking a retail industry trend this year, Sam’s Club won’t be open on Thanksgiving Day and on Black Friday it won’t open until 7 a.m. Instead, Sam’s is throwing some new promotional wrinkles at members and non-members including, “Sam’s Sunday,” event to drive sales.

Deerfield Park, Ill. – Walgreens is opening a new joint store with Johns Hopkins Medicine adjacent to the medical school’s campus in Baltimore. The new Walgreens “Well Experience” store offers a normal Walgreens product assortment, as well as health services including student health services, a healthcare clinic, and chronic disease education.

The healthcare clinic is staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners, marking the first Walgreens in-store retail clinic in the state of Maryland.

Evanston, Ill. -- Walgreens on Thursday opened what is believed to be the nation’s first net zero energy retail store (a net zero building produces energy equal to or greater than it consumes). Located in Evanston, Ill., the store features two wind turbines, nearly 850 solar panels and a geothermal system burrowed 550 ft. into the ground. Engineering estimates indicate that the new Walgreens will use 200,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity while generating 220,000 kilowatt hours per year.