Retail

Watters Creek, in Allen, Texas, began life in a 2005 focus group with two-dozen women from Allen.

Organized by the property’s developer Trademark Property Co., the focus group asked participants what they would like to see in this new mixed-use center. What should it offer? What should it look like? What do you need in Allen, Texas?

Stuart Weitzman plans to open up a pop-up shop in the digital space. The upscale footwear brand has partnered with the online shopping destination, Gilt, to launch the store, created exclusively by Gilt.

The online pop-up will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Stuart Weitzman’s iconic, over-the-knee 5050 boot and feature a 20-piece Anniversary Collection, which includes ten limited-edition styles.

Medford, Mass. — A joint venture between Charter Realty & Development Corp. and Regency Centers Corporation has acquired Fellsway Plaza in Medford, Mass. The joint venture acquired the 150,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center, anchored by a recently constructed Stop & Shop, from Berenson Associates of Boston. PNC Bank provided permanent and development financing. Commercial Property Group represented the joint venture in the transaction.

By Sreekanth Kannan, Senior Marketing Manager, Aerohive Networks

Driving sales with an established brand at multiple retail accounts is hard enough for the biggest consumer packaged goods companies. Creating a new brand in a nonexistent category is even more daunting as a pair of entrepreneurial family members discovered a decade ago when they launched the Granite Gold line of stone-care products. This is their story.

Two stone guys with no experience in consumer package goods or retail set out to conquer the world by trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

New York -- With a late Thanksgiving and the shortest holiday shopping season in years, consumers report they are starting their holiday shopping sooner and spending more this year, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research. The report is more optimistic than some other holiday forecasts.

New York -- Specialty beverage retailer BevMo! Named Douglas J. Ratto as executive VP, chief merchant. Ratto will lead the buying, planning, allocations and distribution teams at BevMo!

Ratto comes to BevMo! with more than 25 years of retail and marketing management experience. Since 2010, Doug served at Safeway as senior VP, GM of alcohol/tobacco, home care/general merchandise & family care.

Specialty beverage retailer BevMo! has appointed former Safeway executive Douglas J. Ratto as the company's EVP, chief merchant. Ratto will lead the buying, planning, allocations and distribution teams at BevMo!