Retail

Bexley, Ohio — Stanbery Development has named Marc Hays as a partner. He will focus on finding locations for new developments and acquisitions as well as leasing.

New York -- Nordstrom Inc. is delaying the opening of its Nordstrom Rack chain in Canada until 2017, in order to focus its attention on the launch of its full-line department stores there, The Globe and Mail reported.

Nordstrom had initially planned to start opening Rack stores in Canada next year. But the company has decided to focus on  the openings of its six Canadian department stores (the first, in Calgary, is due to open this fall).

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia of Friday overturned a lower court's decision in July that favored the merchants and was a setback for banks. The National Retail Federation expressed disappointment with the decision, which will keep the Federal Reserve’s cap on debit card swipe fees at 21 cents rather than reducing it to a lower level.

New York -- Walmart has introduced an online feature, called “Savings Catcher,” that allows shoppers to compare prices on the chain’s food and household products against those of its competitors, according to the Associated Press. General merchandise  categories and electronics are not included, and neither are purchases of store brands or those made online.

Walmart began offering the new service in late February, the report said, in seven markets, including Dallas, San Diego and Atlanta.

Newport Beach, Calif. - Engaged Capital, an investment firm specializing in small and mid-cap North American equities and stockholder of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has retained an independent global professional services firm to assist Engaged Capital in setting a new direction for Abercrombie. The firm has decades of experience in the retail and apparel sector, including the turnaround and restructuring of underperforming businesses.

Charlotte, N.C. – The Cato Corporation cited weather, holiday promotions and a 53rd week in fiscal 2012 as impacting its net income during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The retailer also said it plans to open 64 new stores and close 17 existing stores during fiscal 2014.

Net income fell 52% to $3.8 million from $7.9 million in the same period the prior year, within previously announced guidance range, while sales dropped 7% to $215.2 million from $232 million.

Franklin, Tenn. – The growth of new mobile device shipments is expected to grow 95% worldwide and more than double (108%) in North America during 2014. According to IHL Group's Mobile POS Vendor Database, 47% of total mobile POS shipments in 2013 Worldwide were iOS devices, with Android at 33% and Windows 8 at 12%.

New York — Warby Parker, the hip eyeglass brand, has leased the iconic retail space on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 82nd Street in the Upper East Side.

Winick Realty Group (www.winick.com) represented the landlord Samy Mahfar of SMA Equities in the transaction. Thor High Street Advisors represented Warby Parker.