Transform SR Brands LLC

Chicago is one of the nation’s leading retail markets and a new report from Mid-America Real Estate details the area’s evolving growth patterns, retailers driving development and hot properties.

HomeGoods, Stein Mart and Sierra Trading Post will fill a 76,000-sq.-ft. void created by the closing of a Kmart store at the Maple Village shopping center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sears Holdings will shutter its apparel design office in New York City.

The struggling retailer will shutter the 154-employee office in July, reported the New York Post, which cited a Department of Labor filing.

Sears will move approximately 40 positions to an existing site in San Francisco, with the remainder positions to be cut, according to the report.

Sears Holdings announced its latest round of store closings as it continues to look for ways to cut expenses and return to profitability after five years of losses.

The embattled retailer, which has been steadily shrinking its physical portfolio over the last few years, will close 68 Kmart and 10 Sears stores this summer. (See list of locations at end of story.) In February, Sears warned it would speed up the closing of unprofitable stores.

From hyperlocal social media intelligence to mobile survey creation, this month’s crop of startups is filling niche spaces that can have a big impact on a retailer’s business. Learn about an augmented reality platform that’s elevating the online experience, a social referral startup that makes it easy to spread rewarding word-of-mouth recommendations and an analytics company that helps retailers and CPG companies get the most out of their online and transaction-level customer data.

SurveyMe

Yes, but only if you listen — to both of them

In the early days of retail, the store proprietor knew customers by sight. As mostly mom-and-pop businesses, they naturally spent time getting to know their customers, who probably were also neighbors and friends. They knew from experience and immediate feedback what merchandise would or wouldn’t sell. It was the ultimate in customer intimacy.

Preit has executed a lease that will bring Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream to Viewmont Mall, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The dual store format concept will replace the existing Sears at the property in 90,000 sq. ft. of space. Sears will close this July, with Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream scheduled to open for business for Holiday 2017.