Retail

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports, Inc. substantially missed expectations with a 32% decline in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period last year. Net income totaled $17.8 million in the most recent fiscal quarter, down from $26.2 million.

Total sales were $395.6 million, a 7.6% increase from $367.6 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% during the second quarter.

Burlington, Ontario -- Ikea announced the completion of North America's largest Ikea location, in Ville St. Laurent. Growing from 237,473 sq ft to 469,694 sq ft, the state-of-the-art Ikea Montreal will host a warehouse that is twice the size, doubling the amount of products available to take home at any time.

The new store will also offer customers 1407 parking spots, 600 seats in the restaurant, 48 cash lanes, 54 room settings and 2 full home settings.

Atlanta – The Home Depot, Inc. is reportedly going to stop providing health care benefits to part-time employees working less than 30 hours per week. According to Bloomberg, starting next month the retailer will send about 20,000 part-time employees to purchase their own insurance on government-sponsored healthcare exchanges that will be created under the guidelines of the Affordable Care Act.

Egg Harbor Township, N.J. -- Spirit Halloween, the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in North America, has officially opened the doors of some 1,050 plus locations in the United States and Canada for the 2013 Halloween season. The company this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Spirit stores provide one-stop shopping for everything from top costumes and decor, to accessories and party goods. The stores are feature a variety of interactive displays designed to entertain and — in tune with the season — thrill shoppers.

By Jeff Wakefield, Verifone

Mobility. It is such a broad concept, meaning different things to merchants and consumers. Mobile acceptance, mobile payments, mobile POS, mobile shopping – each plays a distinct part in the overall mobile experience and each has different risks and rewards.

Within this larger mobile arena, the security of the mobile payment device offers the greatest risk for both merchants and consumers alike.

Miami — Gourmet pizza and Panini restaurant Spris has opened in Miami’s Southeast Financial Center in the central business district.

The 1,512-sq.-ft. restaurant is the most recent in a series of Miami homegrown restaurateurs to come to the 1.225 million sq. ft. office tower and plaza.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that its second freestanding Field & Stream location will open on November 1, in Buttermilk Towne Center, Crescent Springs, Ky.

Northbrook, Ill. — Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC recently promoted Todd Zinsmaster from senior VP to executive VP of acquisitions and development.