Retail

By Gary Lee, InReality

Leading commerce platform Shopify is gearing up for its fifth annual Build A Business competition, which it touts as the world's biggest entrepreneurial contest encouraging anyone with a great business idea to start selling.

Alpharetta, Ga. - McAlister's Deli has signed an agreement with existing franchise group Southern Deli Holdings LLC to open 10 additional locations throughout North and South Carolina, Colorado and Wyoming, with three locations slated to open in late 2014. In addition, the franchise group recently acquired seven existing locations in St. Louis.

The new development commitments will result in two new restaurants per year during the next five years.

New York -- Chain Store Age will host a webcast on how retailers can enhance their business intelligence reporting and take it to practical — and actionable — insights. Hear from the world's largest omnichannel retailer of martial arts equipment, Century Martial Arts, how it is leveraging BI to better monitor and engage with customers.

Retailers who are blazing the way forward for grocery-as-service are winning the e-commerce battle.
 
The grocery game is not for the faint of heart. It’s a crowded, complicated category, with players ranging from multi-national supermarket kings to ever-present local mom-and-pop markets. Operational nightmares include supplier management and famously miniscule margins. But it’s grocery’s unique complexities that have protected it from e-commerce.
 
Until now.
 

San Diego -- Following the successful launch of 3D print in six markets across the country, The UPS Store announced it is is expanding 3D printing services to meet the growing demands of its small business customers to nearly 100 additional locations nationwide.

Woodbridge, Va. - Potomac Mills, an outlet and value retail shopping center in the Washington, D.C., area with more than 220 stores, is adding A|X Armani Exchange, Steve Madden, an outlet concept for Swarovski and a first-in-market location for Great American Cookies. Potomac Mills also recently added Factory Outlet, Kate Spade New York Outlet, Charlotte Russe and a first-in-state location for The Limited Outlet.

Recent executive leadership changes at Spanx have set the stage for change and a new phase of growth.

The company has promoted Jill MacRae to EVP, global commerce. MacRae began her career at Spanx in sales, and most recently lead all aspects of product and consumer marketing development as the VP of marketing.