Retail

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has unveiled its latest store concept, the chain said Friday.

Bartell's, the country's oldest drug chain, announced the opening of what the company called its "next generation" store format, a remodel of an existing store in Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood. The company developed the new concept in conjunction with Hartmann Group, a consumer consulting firm based in Bellevue, Wash.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Friday by the Commerce Dept. showed that consumer spending in the U.S. slowed in August, impacted by falling incomes and sporadic hiring.

Commerce Dept. figures showed that purchases edged up 0.2% after a 0.7% increase in July. However, a 0.2% increase in prices wiped out the slight spending gain. Incomes dipped 0.1%, the first decline since October 2009.

Columbus, Ohio -- Information sharing,  expense benchmarking, innovative technologies, energy management systems, disaster preparedness and international facility management were ranked as the most important agenda topics by attendees at FacilitySource’s 5th annual Leadership Symposium, on Sept. 19-22.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Temecula, Calif.

The 35,700-sq-ft, store is scheduled to open during spring 2012 at Commons at Temecula, a regional shopping center. It will occupy the former Linens 'n Things space.
 

Reduced fees for debit card transactions go into effect on Monday and the architect of the authorizing legislation, Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois, was feeling a lot of love from a retail industry that's convinced ample justification remains for even deeper fee reductions.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million said Thursday it has appointed Tyler Novak as general counsel.

Novak will be responsible for overseeing all the company's legal affairs, including general corporate legal matters, intellectual property and corporate compliance, and will report to Clyde B. Anderson, chairman and CEO.
 

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Friday by the Commerce Dept. showed that consumer spending in the U.S. slowed in August, impacted by falling incomes and sporadic hiring.

Commerce Dept. figures showed that purchases edged up 0.2% after a 0.7% increase in July. However, a 0.2% increase in prices wiped out the slight spending gain. Incomes dipped 0.1%, the first decline since October 2009.

Worcester, England -- A survey released Thursday by Postcode Anywhere revealed that online security concerns, long forms and enforced sign-up are the three things most likely to make consumers abandon online purchases.

One thousand U.K. consumers were asked to name the top three reasons they might abandon their shopping online. Security concerns topped the poll, with 50% of consumers rating the factor among their top turn-offs.