Retail

As might be expected from a retail chain that serves as an extension of a technology brand, Microsoft stores are sleek and futuristic. Store layout is open and interactive, with a wide variety of opportunities for shoppers to engage with technology. However, customer-facing technology is limited to products on display, without IT features such as self-service kiosks or electronic shelf labels that can be found at many other stores.

Interactive Promotional Display

Stratacache, a leading provider of scalable, high-performance digital signage, content distribution and enterprise video acceleration technologies, has announced its Optika specialty display division has opened a new, state-of-the-art optical bonding and display enhancement facility in Huber Heights, Ohio. 

The 25,000-sq.ft. facility will be home to Optika’s bonding, resizing, lighting and advanced testing operations, along with a new outdoor digital signage research and testing area. 

Irvine, Calif. – Tilly’s, Inc. has partnered with Thanx Media to host and manage its Oracle Endeca implementation. Tilly’s worked closely with Thanx to select and implement the best solution to meet its goals of improved search engine optimization (SEO), site search, and product merchandising within site search results.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is rolling out its Target Ticket digital video service nationwide. The service allows users to download and view digital video content on their personal digital devices and channels.

Evansville, Ind. — Schnuck Markets plans to open two stores and remodel three locations in southwest Indiana, the supermarket chain said Tuesday.

Schnucks said it planned to invest more than $11 million in Evansville, Ind., which is the largest city in southwest Indiana. Chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck announced the plans at the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and dinner.

Tiffany & Co.’s board of directors has promoted Frederic Cumenal to the position of president and appointed him to a newly created seat on the board. 

Cumenal, who has been with Tiffany in a regional executive role since March 2011, will retain his regional responsibilities and will assume responsibility for the design, merchandising and marketing functions.

Katy, Texas -- Academy Sports + Outdoors will open its first Memphis-area store on Sept. 27, in Collierville, Tenn. In conjunction with the opening, Academy has signed a multi-year partnership with The University of Memphis and its athletics multimedia rights holder, Tiger Sports Properties.

The new 73,000-sq.-ft. Collierville store will be Academy's eighth store in Tennessee.

Burlington, Mass. – Demandware is releasing a new in-store solution that will extend the omnichannel capabilities of the Demandware Commerce platform into the physical store. Demandware’s new digital store solution will allow retailers to digitize the store by combining omnichannel platform capabilities with purpose-built store functionality such as buy in-store/ship to home, guided selling, bar code scanning and secure credit card transactions.