Events

Logistics and supply chain executives from such retail powerhouses as Walmart, Target, Hudson’s Bay Company,  7-Eleven, Neiman Marcus, and The Home Depot will be among the speakers at the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s annual Retail Supply Chain Conference.

The biggest shopping day of the year is approaching, and shoppers are ready — almost 156 million, to be exact.    On Saturday, Dec. 17, 66% of Americans – an estimated 155.7 million people –plan to or are considering taking advantage of Super Saturday sales to complete their holiday gift list, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The survey, which asked 6,890 consumers about their holiday shopping plans, was conducted Dec. 1 - 7.

Popular CBS reality show “Undercover Boss” will kick off its upcoming season with back-to-back one-hour episodes on Dec. 21 featuring two CEOs of national retailers.   The show’s first hour will feature Sharon Price John, president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, who will learn how building bears and other furry animals isn't all fun and games. For a video preview, click here.  

The good vibes, as well as the negative rumblings, that percolate through big events are an annual check on the pulse of an industry. In the case of retail real estate, I am happy to report that the positives seemed to outweigh the negatives at ICSC’s Deal Making show in New York last week.   Let’s start with the good stuff.  

Construction on Fifth+Broadway, a $430 million mixed use project destined for the former site of the Nashville Convention Center, will get underway in second quarter 2017, according to co-developers OliverMcMillan and Spectrum Emery. It will include 183,000 sq. ft. of retail space.   The mixed-use project will house the National Museum of Africa American Music and feature 345,000 sq. ft. of high-rise residential and 350,000 sq. ft. of offices. A 16,000-sq.-ft. roof-top event deck is also in the blueprints.  

More of the nation’s underserved teens will have access to free technology tools and training thanks to Best Buy.   The chain plans to add nine new Best Buy Teen Tech Centers to its year-round support network in 2017. The announcement was made Tuesday, at the opening of Best Buy’s newest Teen Tech Center, in Denver, Colorado.  

Barnes & Noble is set to open its third location featuring the bookseller’s new concept, which combines a bookstore with  a full-service restaurant and table service.   The new store,  at the Palladio of Broadstone in Folsom, California, features a 2,600-sq.-ft. Barnes & Noble Kitchen that has seating for 140, reported the Sacramento Bee.  

Consumers’ demand for stylish workout wear no shows on slowing down.        Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s sales rose 13% to $544.4 million, surpassing Wall Street estimates.   Total comparable sales, which includes comparable store sales and direct to consumer, increased by 7%. Same-store sales rose 4%.      Profit in the quarter was 47 cents a share, excluding some items. Analysts estimated 43 cents on average.