Events

San Antonio approves Lone Star brewery project
San Antonio’s zoning commission voted has approved a $300 million makeover of the city’s shuttered Lone Star Brewery. Three previous attempts to redevelop the 32-acre site dating back to 1996 never materialized. The co-project of CBL and Aqualand Development will be a mixed-use property combining retail, hotel, residential, and office space. Cinemark Theaters and Punch Bowl Social — a dining and gaming center with locations in Denver, Austin, and Cleveland — have signed on as the first tenants.
WEBINAR: How to improve—and sustain—store associate performance
Chain Store Age will sponsor a webinar on one of the most important issues facing store retailers: How to give frontline store associates the critical knowledge they need to drive sales and customer satisfaction.

Tech Bytes: Three ways to succeed on Singles’ Day — even if it’s half a world away

Black Friday weekend is just around the corner. But as retailers remained focused on one-day sales, exclusive sneak peeks and door busters, they are missing the boat on a much more lucrative opportunity — Singles’ Day.
Report: Chinese shoppers’ interest in Singles’ Day slips

While Singles’ Day has morphed into the world’s biggest shopping extravaganza, the event’s allure may be losing some luster.
Macerich expands ‘Santa HQ’ to five more malls

Macerich’s tech-driven, HGTV-sponsored Santa Claus experience will be expanded to five properties in California, Chicago, and metro New York this Christmas season. Kids can download an Elf-Ray Vision app to their smartphones—or used a provided tablet — to explore “Santa HQ” in 3D, take an Elfie Selfie to insert themselves in a customized holiday video, or test their gift-worthiness on the Naughty or Nice O’Meter. A 10,000-bulb synchronized light show at the attraction plays the Carol of the Bells.
Webinar: Taking Stock of Retail’s Analytics Capabilities
Mall of America 'Debuts' a pop-up collection

On Nov. 16, the Mall of America will open the doors on a revolving collection of pop-up shops that will come and go throughout the year. Branded as Debut, the 2,500-sq.-ft. space will be kicked off by an eclectic selection of nine brands including Askov Finlayson, West Elm Local, Woolrich, Pomegranate, and Laurel Way by Pam Mondale.
Walmart’s new sustainability roadmap includes focus on renewable energy

Walmart is setting some lofty goals for itself on such critical issues as sustainability and job creation. In remarks Friday at the Net Impact Conference, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon outlined a "new roadmap" that will guide the company’s role in society on critical issues during the next several years, and pointed to a “new era of trust and transparency.”
Searching for Cubs championship gear? Look no further than Uber

Uber wants to put championship gear commemorating the Cubs’ World Series victory into fans’ hands as quickly as possible. Through a partnership with licensed sports merchandise e-retailer Fanatics, Uber launched a program that enables Cubbies fans to purchase championship hats and t-shirts directly through the ride-hailing app, according to Recode.
Top Retailers, Influencers Talk Innovation at X/SPECS
Santa to take flight at 12 Taubman malls

Taubman is taking the Santa experience to a higher level — literally — at 12 malls this holiday season. On Nov. 11, the mall owner and manager will debut “Santa’s Flight Academy,” where kids will be able to register as members of the jolly old elf’s flight crew, help Sleigh Mechanic George or Reindeer Caretaker Flash prepare for liftoff and engage in what Taubman is describing as an “immersive holiday experience.”
AmEx: Holiday spending, mobile usage jumps this holiday season

It may only be the first week of November, but American shoppers are steadily crossing items off of their holiday shopping lists. As of the end of September, one-third (33%) of consumers had already started their holiday shopping, up significantly from 25% in 2015. Further, they expect to spend an average of $908, an 8% increase from last year ($839 in 2015). Among affluent consumers, this threshold increases to an average of $1,513.