Events

Retailers navigate shifting regulatory landscape amid a flurry of EPA involvement

The past decade has seen a monumental shift in regulatory oversight of retailers’ environmental compliance programs, forcing companies to adapt compliance solutions to the myriad of hazardous waste control laws impacting the retail sector.

Historically, most enforcement has been at the state and local level. But in late 2016, the industry witnessed a flurry of retail-related activity from the Environmental Protection Agency, including:

Target Corp. its updating its experimental concept store in San Francisco, Target Open House, which opened in summer 2015 as a showcase for smart, “connected” home technology.    In a blog on its website, Target said Open House has closed for a significant remodel project. It will reopen to the public on Friday, Feb. 10.  

One technology provider is forgoing a traditional show floor exhibit to illustrate how innovation will drive the next-generation retail experience.   

A 12-year-old CEO is among the 25 individuals named to the National Retail Foundation’s 2017 List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.    Mikaila Ulmer, founder and CEO of Me & The Bees Lemonade http://gala.nrf.com/the-list-2017#MIKAILA-ULMER, is the youngest of the list’s honorees, all of whom will be recognized at the NRF Foundation Gala on January 15 during the NRF Big Show in New York City.  

Oculus Populi: The mall at the center of the World Trade Center

Innovation is today’s buzzword. And it was all the talk at Chain Store Age’s X/SPECS 2016, as key executives from some of the nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains zeroed in on real-world strategies designed to innovate stores and elevate customer experiences.

There is little doubt the public’s fear about safety has been heightened. In fact, the news these days is saturated with danger signals. Some people feel the threat of public spaces more acutely than others.

Having been trapped in a building two blocks from ground zero on 9/11, I myself have become hyperaware. I’ve devoted a lot of thought to how we can make shoppers feel more secure in the spaces we design so that they will be drawn to a store, be comfortable staying, and finally, lose themselves in the experience and want to return another day.

As digital disruptors continue to alter retail operations, brands are working to harness these emerging innovations to drive engagement among shoppers and employees. Look for the National Retail Federation’s upcoming 106th annual convention to educate attendees on these and other critical business strategies.

The past year saw the opening of dozens of exciting new stores in Manhattan. Here’s my annual list of faves:

• Barneys: In a spectacular homecoming, the upscale retailer opened a stunning flagship downtown on the same block the company was founded in 1923. The multi-level, 55,000-sq.-ft. store combines the ultimate in modern luxe with the latest technology, from beacons to a store clienteling app to mobile checkouts. (101 Seventh Ave.)

Gracious Homes’ lease on a 17,000-sq.-ft. store in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan is on the auction block.   The location, which has 70 ft. of frontage on 25th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue is being made available at a “substantially below market” rate, according to Andy Graiser, co-president of A&G Realty Partners, which is handling the auction for the retailer that recently filed for bankruptcy protection.