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Retail

  • Albertsons goes with the flow of craft beer

    As America's obsession with craft beer shows no signs of losing steam, shoppers looking to fill their own growlers with upscale brews may not need to go farther than their local Albertsons supermarket.

    The grocery chain is embracing the craft beer trend by adding growler stations to some of its stores. The company recently added a Growler Station Express to a store in Phoenix, Ariz., to satisfy area craft beer fans.

  • Study: Online shoppers expect user reviews

    Chicago – Customer reviews are now an expectation, not an option, for e-commerce sites. According to a study analyzing the impact of user-generated content on consumer purchase behavior from ratings and reviews provider PowerReviews, consumers will abandon a site if it doesn’t provide the information they need.

  • Why Higher Rates from USPS are Actually Good for Retailers

    By Jim Haller, NPI

    The words “raising rates” are enough to elicit a face-in-palms reaction from any online retailer – especially when it comes to small parcel shipping. Yet, a different reaction may be in order as the United States Postal Service announces its intent to raise rates later this year.

  • Tractor Supply plows ahead with expansion

    Tractor Supply Company is marching ahead with plans for growth in 2015 by opening its 1,400th store.

    The Eunice, La., location is scheduled to hold its grand opening celebration on Feb. 21, moving the retailer well past its Dec. 27 reading of 1,382 stores.

  • Amazing Lash Studio signs on new franchise partners; to add nearly 100 locations

    Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Amazing Lash Studio, a fast-growing franchisor of eyelash extension studios is starting 2015 by welcoming new regional developer partners who will open nearly 100 studios in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey and New York. This nearly doubles the coverage of the Amazing Lash Studio brand to 15 states across the country.

    Franchise veterans Ren and Michelle Waters have partnered with Terry and Leslie Rock to develop 20 studios in the Nevada, Utah and Idaho regions for Amazing Lash Studio.

  • Gilt Groupe raises $50M for IPO

    Luxury online retailer Gilt Groupe has been preparing for an IPO for a year now, but didn’t have enough cash. Now the retailer says it has raised another $50 million from venture backers.

    Founded in 2007, Gilt is a New York-based e-commerce retailer that holds flash sales of discounted luxury items from clothing to home décor. The $50 million infusion brings Gilt’s total amount raised to about $250 million.

  • Samsung to acquire digital wallet platform—and Apple Pay competitor— LoopPay

    Mountain View, Calif. -- Samsung Electronics Co. is making a major commitment to mobile payments with its agreement to acquire U.S. startup LoopPay, a mobile wallet solutions provider that turns existing magnetic stripe readers into contactless receivers. The acquisition will put Samsung up against mobile payment services, including Apple Pay and Pay Pal.  According to various reports, Samsung plans to integrate LoopPay's technology in one of its upcoming flagship phones.
     

  • CIT: Electronics, furniture look strong in 2015; mixed outlook for apparel

    New York -- The consumer electronics and furniture sectors of the retail industry can look forward to growth in 2015, while the apparel sector faces a more mixed outlook. That was the message sounded by CIT Commercial Services executives during a roundtable discussion, "Everyone Looks Good in the Black: Retailers in the Economic Rebound,” part of the CIT Executive Insights series.

    During the discussion, each CIT executive offered their views on the top trends they see ahead in various sectors of the retail market:

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