News Briefs

A home improvement retailer is using automated robots to help ensure its shelves are filled with the right products.

HomeBase USA has rolled out the Simbe Store Intelligence platform and autonomous shelf-scanning robot Tally to two store locations in Copperas Cove, Texas and Laramie, Wyo. The Laramie store introduction marks the first Tally deployment in the state of Wyoming.

HomeBase stores feature expansive footprints and tens of thousands of SKUs across the categories of lumber, building supply, hardware, farm, ranch, and lawn & garden. The retailer finds keeping shelves stocked with the right items, in the right place, at the right price across fixtures like hooks, bins, top stock, and bulk to be a complex task.

Utilizing the Tally robot, HomeBase captures real-time, shelf-level data on product availability, pricing, and placement it supplies to store associates to help them act faster and with greater accuracy. The retailer reports results including fewer out-of-stocks, more efficient labor, and a more streamlined, satisfying customer experience.

[READ MORE: Country Supplier rolls out autonomous robots in stores]

"Getting inventory right is fundamental to our business, and with Tally, we’re equipping our teams with the insights they need to succeed," said Mark Dremel, district manager at HomeBase. "This pilot is an exciting step toward improving both operational performance and the in-store experience, and we’re eager to see Tally’s impact as we look to scale."

Originally established in 1917 as Sutherlands in Durant, Okla., the family-owned business evolved to launch the first HomeBase location in Copperas Cove, Texas, in 2017. Today, HomeBase operates nine stores across five states.

Copper Property CTL, a pass-through trust established to acquire 160 JCPenney stores and six distribution centers as part of the brand’s 2020 Chapter 11 filing, has found a buyer for 119 of them.

Copper Property has made a purchase and sale agreement with an unnamed affiliate of Onyx Partners, a Needham, Mass., investment collaboration firm, to purchase all 119 properties for $947 million in cash.

The transaction is the culmination of an extensive marketing process executed by the global real estate services firm Newmark. The properties are subject to a long-term, triple-net master lease with Penney Intermediate Holdings LLC.

"This transaction is the culmination of an extensive marketing process run by Newmark," Copper Property said in a statement. "The properties are subject to a long-term triple-net master lease with Penney Intermediate Holdings LLC or affiliates thereof. The buyer has now completed its due diligence, and its deposit under the agreement is non-refundable."

The average store size of the store portfolio is 132,000 sq. ft. on an average tract of 8.36 acres, according to Newmark.

The trust was formed for the sole purpose of owning, leasing and selling the JCPenney properties as promptly as possible. It is externally managed by an affiliate of Hilco Real Estate LLC. 

Edible Arrangements has launched a new curated gifting platform.

The brand, known for its fresh fruit arrangements, has partnered with Goody, a tech-forward gifting platform, to expand the reach of its gifting marketplace on Edible.com. Powered by Goody's Commerce API and its catalog of premium brands, the new platform features a wide selection of non-perishable, third-party gifts designed to complement Edible's current products.

In addition to Edible's signature same-day gifting options, customers can now choose from a curated assortment of food-adjacent items that pair with Edible's core offerings. The e-commerce integration brings brands like Carbone, Ghia, Homesick Candles and more to Edible's online marketplace. Each gift includes a personalized digital card delivered instantly.

"Our new marketplace expands our offering, especially among customers in places without Edible storefronts," said Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands, who took the reins of the company last fall. "By further expanding into non-perishables and modern fulfillment models, we're removing the limitations of geography and inventory, while staying true to the emotional impact that defines our brand."

By launching third-party fulfillment, Edible says it can move faster and meet customer demand more effectively, without adding complexity to local operations.

"We see this as a natural collision of purpose and capability," said Katy Carrigan, CEO at Goody. "Edible has built trust with millions of households, and Goody has built a curated gift catalog and the backend to integrate into their marketplace at scale. Together, we're creating a more seamless and personal way to send something thoughtful."

[READ MORE: Edible Brands names new chief stores officer]

Atlanta-based Edible Brands is the parent company of Edible Arrangements, Edible.com, Edibles.com and Roti Modern Mediterranean.

Ace Hardware is expanding its supply chain network with a strategically located logistics hub.

The world’s largest hardware cooperative has opened a new retail support center in Kansas City, Mo. Initially announced in 2023, the new facility spans more than 1.5 million-sq.-ft., measuring a half-mile from end to end. 

Situated in nearly the exact geographic center of the continental U.S., the center is located along Interstate 29 and adjacent to Kansas City International Airport, offering access to major highway and air freight networks. This site is intended to enhance the retailer’s ability to deliver products quickly and reliably to thousands of locally owned stores across the central U.S.

The facility is nearly twice the size of the average Ace Hardware distribution center and is expected to generate more than 350 new local jobs. The new retail support center joins a network of more than a dozen distribution centers across the country and will feature advanced automation technology and efficiency systems designed to streamline operations, minimize environmental impact, and support Ace's long-term sustainability goals.

[READ MORE: Ace to invest $1B in remodels, new stores]

"This new 1.5 million-square-foot facility in Kansas City is more than just a building—it's a symbol of what hard work, purpose, and servant-hearted teamwork can accomplish," said John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Ace Hardware. "It exists for one reason only: to help our locally owned stores serve their neighbors with excellence that has made Ace famous."

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace Hardware is the largest hardware cooperative in the world, serving more than 8,700 locally owned and operated stores around the globe, including almost 5,200 Ace retail stores in the U.S. 

Tilly’s is looking to revitalize its brand with a new leader. 

The young men’s and women’s casual apparel and accessories retailer has appointed Nate Smith as president, CEO and director, effective Aug. 18. In his new role, Smith will succeed Tilly’s co-founder Hezy Shaked who will transition into the executive chairman role effective on that date. 

Smith has served as CEO of Marolina Outdoor since September 2024. Previously, from June 2017 to April 2024, he was president, Americas, at Boardriders.

Prior to Boardriders, Smith served as VP/general manager, North American wholesale at Oakley from 2015 to 2017 and as VP Oakley Defense from 2012 to 2017. He has also served in executive roles at IPATH Footwear, MV Transportation, Inc. and Patagonia, Inc. following his eight years of service in the United States Navy.

“On behalf of myself and the board, we are very excited to have Nate join our leadership team, and I am looking forward to working closely with him as he transitions into Tillys,” said Shaked. “We believe Nate’s combination of robust industry experience, core values, and strategic vision will help revitalize our brand and drive further improvements in our business during this important time.”

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Tilly’s currently operates 232 stores across 33 states. 

“Tillys has had a strong track record of success over its 43-year history, and I am excited to work with Hezy, the board and the team to revitalize and build upon that history,” said Smith.

Westport, Conn.-based PopUp Bagels is furthering its nationwide expansion plans.

The East Coast chain says it has officially signed deals for 300 franchise locations, setting up expansion in 10 states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, California and Maine. 

PopUp Bagels says its goal is to reach 100 open locations by the end of 2027. It currently operates 14 locations in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

[READ MORE: PopUp Bagels plans 35 SoCal stores]

“We’re not just opening stores - we’re redefining what it means to franchise,” said Tory Bartlett, CEO of PopUp Bagels. “We’re partnering with some of the most accomplished operators in the industry, and together we’re building a model rooted in connection, quality, and long-term success. This isn’t just scale – it’s a smarter way to grow.”

PopUp Bagels says it strategically selects locations in high-traffic, energetic urban and suburban communities, with retail spaces that typically span 1,100 sq. ft. The brand offers “Grip, Rip and Dip” bagels, along with unique weekly schmear offerings that aim to generate excitement and loyalty among guests.

To fuel its nationwide growth, PopUp Bagels says it is building dedicated regional production hubs for bagels and schmear to ensure that every store delivers the same “signature experience, regardless of zip code.”

“When we started baking bagels in my backyard, I never imagined we’d turn it into a national brand,” said Adam Goldberg, founder of PopUp Bagels. “We weren’t trying to start a business – we just wanted to make something great and share it with friends. The idea of hitting 300 stores is surreal, but the real achievement is building a company that still feels like that: small, connected and full of energy.”