Events

Microsoft, Retail Realm partner on Dynamics solution
Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft and Retail Realm are partnering to launch the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Essentials with Retail Realm product, which represents Microsoft's first major push into the SMB marketplace with a new solution. On new install, this retail-specific solution installs with the Retail Realm add-on embedded.
Survey: Most consumers won’t shop Black Friday or Cyber Monday
New York — Most Americans won’t shop on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday this year. According to a new Bankrate.com survey of 1,000 consumers, only 28% of Americans plan to shop in a store on Black Friday.

Hartmann to appear on 'Undercover Boss'

True Value’s boss went undercover, and the cameras were rolling. True Value Company president and CEO John Hartmann will appear in the season six premiere of "Undercover Boss" airing on Dec. 14 on CBS.
RetailNext – Black Friday to be busiest shopping day of 2014

San Jose, Calif. – Black Friday (Nov. 28) is expected to be the busiest shopping day of 2014. According to data from in-store analytics provider RetailNext, it will be followed in order by four days in December: Dec. 20, 21, 13 and 19.
For the broader holiday period spanning November and December 2014, RetailNext predicts store traffic will be down 4% from the 2013 holiday period, while sales will be flat to 1% lower, conversions will be up 0.5% and average transaction value will rise 3.5%.
Polaroid opens 3 Fotobar stores in L.A.

Boca Raton, Fla. – Polaroid is opening three locations of its Fotobar experiential retail concept in the Los Angeles area, with the first debuting Nov. 18 at Westfield Culver City. The 300-sq.-ft.micro-stores offer a cube shape and Polaroid Color Spectrum logo, and customers can take a seat at the Fotobar and transform their pictures instantly from their smartphone, Facebook or Instagram into three different size Polaroid pictures which can be collected in unique Polaroid shadowboxes or other picture accessories.
Miracle Mile welcomes new retail tenants

Chicago -– During the upcoming winter, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will convert nearly 6,000-sq.-ft. of open space into four new retail destinations by welcoming M•A•C Cosmetics, Desigual and Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics and opening a larger, renovated House of Hoops by Foot Locker. M•A•C Cosmetics opens in December, followed later in the winter by global apparel retailer Desigual.
Dayton Mall to introduce Artec Group Shapify Booth

Dayton, Ohio -- The Dayton Mall is launching the Shapify Booth, a 3D full body scanner from Artec Group, on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the mall’s center court. The booth takes a full scan of a person in 12 seconds, which is then 3D printed to create a full-color figurine called a “Shapie.”
Deloitte: Consumer spending dips in October

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index marginally dipped in October after two months of consecutive increases. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending. The Index, which comprises four components--tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices--decreased to 4.1 in October from 4.4 the prior month. Highlights of the Index include:
Sam’s Club launches online Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving

Bentonville, Ark. –- Sam’s Club will launch its Black Friday sale online on Thursday, Nov. 27 just after midnight EST with free standard shipping on Black Friday items. Members can continue shopping in clubs starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.
Sam’s Club launches online Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving

Bentonville, Ark. –- Sam’s Club will launch its Black Friday sale online on Thursday, Nov. 27 just after midnight EST with free standard shipping on Black Friday items. Members can continue shopping in clubs starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.
UPS: 1 in 3 Canadian consumers will shop Black Friday, Cyber Monday

Mississauga, Canada -- Canadian shoppers are off to an earlier start with holiday shopping. UPS Canada's annual Black Friday survey conducted by Leger shows that one-third of Canadians plan to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. The findings forecast that 20% of Canadian consumers will travel to the U.S. to shop for Black Friday deals and 32% of Canadian consumers will make online Cyber Monday purchases from U.S. retailers.
Shared WiFi app wins PayPal ‘BattleHack’ contest

San Jose, Calif. -- PayPal and Braintree have named named the $100,000 grand prize winner of the 2014 BattleHack Series. At the World Finals, competitors were tasked with building an application that incorporates PayPal, Braintree or Venmo APIs. The grand prize was awarded to the team from Tel Aviv, with two hackers, Shai Mishali and Pavel Kaminsky.