Events

As part of its recent Fall Expo Event, Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based global investor and technology accelerator that specializes in growing tech startups, held a startup pitch competition with 19 companies that are part of its Brand and Retail Accelerator program.

Leading commerce platform Shopify is gearing up for its fifth annual Build A Business competition, which it touts as the world's biggest entrepreneurial contest encouraging anyone with a great business idea to start selling.

After launching 3D print in six markets across the country, the UPS Store is expanding 3D printing services to nearly 100 additional locations nationwide.
 
In the past year, the six locations saw demand for 3D print continuing to increase across a broad spectrum of customers.

The return of LeBron James and much-anticipated Republican National Convention are not the only good news items about Cleveland, Ohio, and the entire northeast part of the State, home to over 4 million people.

Niagara Falls, N.Y. -- Macerich announced that its outlet property Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA will open the doors of its planned expansion on Oct. 23. The new expansion delivers nearly 175,000 sq. ft. and opens with 35 new tenants, and more to come in 2015.

Richardson, Texas -- KDC announced it has agreed to sell land to Look Cinemas to build a 60,000-sq.-ft. upscale dining and movie theatre complex at CityLine, the company’s 186-acre mixed-use project in Richardson, Texas.

Indianapolis -- Real estate giant Simon on Thursday announced 'Simon Launch,' a retail startup competition aimed at discovering, investing in, and accelerating the top startups in the retail industry. Simon will co-invest in the competition's winners through its recently formed venture capital arm — Simon Venture Group — in collaboration with Plug and Play,  a global investor and technology accelerator that specializes in growing tech startups. Simon will also become an Anchor Member of Plug and Play's Retail Accelerator program.

San Francisco -- Simon and NRG eVgo, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, announced the installation of new electric car fast-charging Freedom Station sites that can recharge shoppers' vehicles in 30 minutes or less at four Northern California Simon shopping centers: Vacaville Premium Outlets, Livermore Premium Outlets, Great Mall and Petaluma Village Premium Outlets.

Family Dollar is staying focused on making a difference in communities where it operates even as it remains the target of takeover battle between Dollar General and Dollar Tree.

The company has made a $458,000 donation to Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger relief charity. The amount includes donations from Family Dollar and customers at more than 8,200 Family Dollar stores during the retailer’s ‘Feeding Families, Fueling Hope’ campaign. The donation translates to more than 4.5 million meals for children and families in need.

With word this week that Walmart will rebrand its small format Express stores under the Neighborhood Market banner, there will be plenty of interest in an upcoming presentation by the retailer’s vp of small formats.

Marc Lieberman, vp of small formats for Walmart U.S., is slated to speak at a Doing Business in Bentonville event on Thursday, October 9. at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark., from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.