Apple, Inc.

IBM: Online holidays look bright for retailers
Armonk, N.Y. –- IBM projects a strong holiday shopping season with online sales projected to increase 15% during the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. The biggest increase in online sales is expected on Cyber Monday, predicted to grow 15.8%, followed closely by Thanksgiving with a projected increase of 15.6%.
One System, Many Channels

Evolution is a constant process of change. Tracking not only what is happening now but what will happen next is a difficult and fluid process. Yet if anyone is in a position to accurately gauge the current and future direction of POS technology, it is Greg Buzek, president of global research and advisory firm IHL Group. According to Buzek, POS evolution currently points in the directions of omnichannel and mobile.

The More Things Change ... The More They Stay The Same

The POS landscape is rapidly changing due to the emergence of disruptive technologies, such as self-checkout, mobile devices and pay by touch. However, the traditional hardware-based approach to POS is still alive and well, and should be for the foreseeable future.
SL Green Realty acquires 102 Greene Street

New York City -- SL Green Realty Corp. announced it has acquired the retail property located at 102 Greene Street for $32.25 million. The transaction marks the continued growth of the company’s prime retail property portfolio, which already includes several other assets in Manhattan’s SoHo retail district.
Gap Raises Bar on Digital With New CEO

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Ron Johnson Launching Retail Start-Up

Former J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson is back in the game. Johnson, who prior to joining Penney headed up Apple’s retail store operations for nearly 12 years, is launching a new company — called Enjoy — and contrary to earlier rumors, it’s not an on-demand tech-gadget delivery service. Instead, it’s a service to help online shoppers make the right product choices.

Johnson isn’t divulging much about his new start-up, or exactly what it will offer.
Retail Rap: Digital Walleting

It has been fascinating to watch the back and forth in recent weeks as competing systems for mobile payment have suddenly been grabbing headlines and jockeying for space in the public consciousness.
Mall Marketing Spotlight: DreamWorks DreamPlace “The North Pole Adventure” to launch at Westchester’s Ridge Hill

Ridge Hill, the Forest City Ratner-owned regional shopping and entertainment destination in Westchester, N.Y., will be the launchpad for DreamWorks Animation’s “North Pole Adventure,” a first-of-its-kind experience that blends storytelling and cutting-edge technology—taking families on an interactive journey that starts with Shrek and ends with a personal visit with Santa.
TechBytes: CurrentC -- Two Pros and Three Cons

CurrentC, the mobile payment service under development from a retailer consortium known as Merchant Customer Exchange, or MCX, has been getting a lot of attention in the past week. First MCX members CVS and Rite Aid disabled their NFC payment systems to block the rival ApplePay mobile payment service, and then hackers stole the emails of CurrentC users. And despite all this publicity, CurrentC is still in pilot mode.
Best Buy’s Future Shop unit to debut updated smaller-store concept

New York -- Canadian consumer electronics retailer Future Shop, a subsidiary of Best Buy, will open its third small-format store, in Cornwall, Ontario, in November. The 8,000-sq.-ft. store represents the evolution of its small-format that focuses on providing integration between in-store and online and a seamless customer experience. The updates layout features an open view to the back warehouse, a modernized esthetic and a creative use of warm colours that all contribute to an inviting shopping experience.
Adorama gets aboard the Google Express

Consumer electronics retailer Adorama is the latest company to join with Google Express to offer same day delivery in Manhattan.

Customers can now have their purchases of computers, tablets, smartphones, cameras, even TVs and home theaters, delivered right to their door on the same day they order. Google Express is currently offering a three-month free trial on eligible orders over $15 for new members or use the service for $4.99 per order on eligible orders over $15.
QVC enhances smartphone, tablet experience

West Chester, Penn. –- QVC will introduce a new in-app mobile feature in the coming weeks that allows customers to make purchases with a touch of their finger. Using Apple's fingerprint sensor technology, Touch ID, the QVC for iPhone app now gives customers the option to log in to their QVC accounts on all iOS 8-enabled iPhone 5S, 6 and 6+ mobile devices using only their fingertip to authenticate their identity.