Events

Las Vegas -- A giant “starburst ” a 14-ft.-diameter structure composed of 911 custom-cut Swarovski crystal spheres that put on a dazzling show at midnight, is the sparkling centerpiece of Las Vegas’ newest retail destination, Grand Bazaar Shops. The starburst, was created for — and towers above—the outdoor center’s new Swarovski store, whose exterior is composed of dozens of large, angular facets designed to make it resemble a cut crystal.

Orlando, Fla. - Planet Hollywood, is transforming its Orlando flagship location into a four-story star-gazing observatory set to debut in spring 2016. The reimagined “Planet Hollywood Observatory” will overlook the heart of Downtown Disney with a newly-expanded outdoor terrace and bar.

Dublin, Calif. -- dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, Inc., will open a new store in Oxnard, California. The opening date is scheduled for Feb. 28.

The new store is located in Fremont Square along North Ventura Road and Doris Avenue in North Oxnard.

California is the retailer’s largest state with a total of 68 stores.  Including this new location, dd’s Discounts will operate 156 locations in 15 states.
 

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is aiming to attract more families with a new corporate giving campaign.

The fabric and craft specialty retailer announced that Boys & Girls Clubs of America will be a major recipient of Jo-Ann corporate giving in 2015. To help inspire young minds, customers will be able to purchase a “pin-up” upon checkout to benefit the organization from March 1 through April 4 at all Jo-Ann stores nationwide.

Kohl’s is sponsoring a Milwaukee-area school grant program for the third year in a row.   The Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program gives more than $1 million in funding to schools throughout the metro-Milwaukee area.  

Watsonville, Calif. – Expenses in benefits, share-based compensation, and inventory that exceeded forecasts helped keep West Marine Inc. in the red during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. West Marine reported a net loss of $10.3 million, a small improvement from the $11.3 million net loss it reported in the same quarter the prior fiscal year.

Net revenues grew 9% to $129.4 million from $118.8 million. The addition of a 53rd week in fiscal 2014 helped boost that figure. Same-store sales rose 2.8%.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree reported that its net income dropped 13% to $206.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, down from $239 million in the year ago period. The quarter included $6.7 million in acquisition-related costs associated with the pending merger with Family Dollar Stores Inc.

Mountain View, Calif. – Apple Pay may have some new competition this spring. Google is reportedly planning to release an Android-based digital payment API known as Android Pay at its Google I/O conference in May 2015.

According to Ars Technica, Android Pay would integrate into retailers’ mobile apps but could also be used at physical checkout stations. Similar to Apple Pay, consumers would upload credit or debit card information to Android Pay and pay by tap.

The Center for Retailing Excellence just scored another coup with the addition of Walmart COO Judith McKenna to the agenda for an upcoming conference that already included Walmart CEO Doug McMillon.

The Center, part of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, is scheduled to hold its annual Emerging Trends in Retail conference on June 11 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale near Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville headquarters.

Walmart is all about leveraging its scale to drive performance, but the application of that mindset can play out in many different ways, as Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, will explain on March 3.