Corporate Governance

Report: Raley’s considers smaller, urban format
West Sacramento, Calif. – Raley’s Supermarkets is considering hitting the big city. According to The Sacramento Bee, Raley’s is evaluating the launch of a smaller “farmer’s market” store format aimed at hip urban dwellers.

The format would focus on healthy and locally produced items. If Raley’s goes ahead with the concept, it could take up to two years to roll them out. Raley’s is considering opening two of the urban stores in downtown Sacramento.
Tech Bytes: Three Lessons from Amazon Prime Day
Now that the dust is clearing from the Amazon Prime Day sales “holiday,” we can take a look back at this unique retail event, which livened up the typical lull of mid-summer. Let’s review three initial lessons the retail industry can learn from what some observers called the “summer Black Friday.”

Every Day can be a Holiday

TreeHouse, Austin, Texas

TreeHouse is a first-of-its-kind home improvement store. Specializing in curated products and services that promote healthy and sustainable spaces, the 25,000-sq.-ft. eco-friendly space is a hub for everything tied to smart, thoughtful building.

TreeHouse is airy and inviting, with skylights and an open feel. There are lots of displays, product vignettes and graphics that explain how things work and tout the benefits of non-toxic paint and the like.
Dunkin’ Donuts seeks gold with California expansion

Canton, Mass. – “California, I’ll be knocking on the golden door.” Dunkin’ Donuts executives may find themselves singing these words from the Grateful Dead classic “Estimated Prophet” as the coffee retailer pursues a massive expansion strategy in the most populated U.S. state.
Instacart expands employee option

San Francisco - Instacart is expanding a program that lets some contract workers become part-time employees. The online grocery delivery service is now offering its contractor in-store shoppers in Houston and Austin, Texas, the option of applying for new employee roles with expanded responsibilities.
Taylor Swift picks Chinese e-commerce partner – it’s not Alibaba

Beijing – Pop star Taylor Swift has selected a Chinese e-commerce partner – and it isn’t Alibaba. Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com will be the first authorized seller of Taylor Swift merchandise in China.

The new JD.com store will be the official online source of Taylor Swift items, including a new fashion line the music superstar designed specifically for the Chinese market.
Melting Pot takes on the world

Tampa, Fla. – The U.S. is known as a melting pot, and now a major U.S. casual dining chain wants to turn the world into a melting pot of consumers of its food. The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. has partnered with commercial real estate advisory firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) to support a long-term domestic and international expansion strategy.
Harry & David selects PR firm

New York - Harry & David has selected MWW Public Relations to serve as its official public relations agency. To help drive Harry & David's brand relevance among target consumers, MWWPR is charged with developing and implementing a strategic communication plan that focuses on media and influencer engagement and strengthening Harry & David as a household name.
Randolph Mall welcomes two new retail tenants

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Ross Dress for Less and Ulta Beauty are coming to Randolph Mall in Asheboro, North Carolina. The two new stores will be situated in the former J.C. Penney location.

Construction is expected to begin in October with the grand opening for both stores scheduled for 2016. Randolph Mall is a 400,000-sq.-ft. mall featuring more than 40 specialty stores and is anchored by Belk, Dunham’s Sports, and Sears.
Tango receives $30 million in equity funding

Irving, Texas - Tango, a provider of store lifecycle management solutions and services, has received an investment of $30 million from Frontier Capital, a growth equity firm. The investment in the company’s software-as-a-service, consulting and managed services businesses will support Tango’s growth and demand for their store lifecycle management solution in the North American retail market.
It’s a new day for PayPal

San Jose, Calif. – July 20 will always be a huge day in the history of PayPal Holdings Inc. PayPal completed its separation from eBay Inc. on July 17, but as of today is trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “PYPL” as an independent public company
Barnes & Noble names Toys ‘R’ Us exec as digital, Nook chief

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is not playing around when it comes to digital retail or its Nook e-reader. The retailer has named Frederic D. Argir as VP and chief digital officer overseeing the e-commerce and Nook businesses, which are part of the retail division.

Argir joins Barnes & Noble from Toys ‘R Us Inc., where he also served as chief digital officer. Barnes & Noble also said that Mahesh Veerina, president of the Nook consumer business, will leave the company on Feb. 1, 2016.