Events

The Container Store is teaming up with Goodwill on a new spring cleaning campaign with a philanthropic angle.

From now through May 15, The Container Store is encouraging customers to declutter and donate via two item donation weekend events at the retailer's locations nationwide, as well as a monetary donation initiative in partnership with Goodwill through the end of the campaign.

Publix has hired a broker and is actively looking for sites in the Washington, D.C., area, according to a new report. The Washington Business Journal reported that the Florida-based grocery chainhad a booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ Mid-Atlantic Dealmaking and Conference last week in Southern Maryland. Publix spokeswoman Kim Reynolds told the publication that indeed, the chain is looking to open stores throughout Virginia, including in Northern Virginia.

The National Retail Federation is pressing for a further reduction in per transaction fee banks charge retailers when customers use debit cards five years after the Federal Reserve cut the fee in half.

In a letter the National Retail Federation sent to the Federal Reserve the trade group said the cap on debit card swipe fees enacted by the Federal Reserve five years ago has helped reduce costs for retailers and consumers but is still higher than intended by Congress and should be lowered.

Ross Dress for Less opened a new store in El Paso, Texas on March 5.

Under Armour’s two-story flagship in Chicago took home top honors in the A.R.E.’s annual Design Awards, which were presented Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Designed by Big Red Rooster, a JLL company, Under Armour won the Store of the Year award and also took top honors in the specialty store category (over 25,000 sq. ft.). The 30,000-sq.-ft. store features the sporting goods giant’s “Brand House” format, and blends merchandise and technology with accents of localization.

Target Corp. has reached an important milestone in its journey to launching a new retail accelerator in partnership with Boulder, Colorado-based start-up accelerator Techstars.

Target initially announced the new accelerator, expected to launch in June 2016, last October. The retailer has now closed the application process, after receiving applications from more than 500 technology start-ups in 45 countries and 32 states. Ideas submitted include connected toys and virtual fitting rooms.