Apparel

Redeveloping Retail: America’s Top Redevelopers
Ninth annual survey supports adding value through redevelopment
In its ninth year, the annual Top Redevelopers survey continues to demonstrate the value of redeveloping and repositioning shopping centers. As always, the goals include refreshing, remodeling, tweaking, and sometimes demolishing and rebuilding with an eye to providing tenants with space that supports their goals.
Update on Flooring
New printing techniques, sizes allow for greater options.
Whether it’s a high-end specialty store or a big-box discounter, flooring can go a long way toward setting the right mood — and making shoppers feel comfortable. “It’s naturally innate in us to look down at the ground,” said Nathan Lee Colkitt, CEO, Colkitt&Co., an architectural firm with offices in San Diego and New York City. “If we get the lay of the land, we feel safer and more comfortable.”

Postal Rate Increases

Mini catalogs help offset increased costs of mailing, without sacrificing circulation
In the largest price increase since 2007, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is proposing a rate hike of 5.9%, a move that has catalog mailers scrambling to assess the impact of such an increase and also evaluating less expensive alternatives. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has up to 90 days to rule on the proposal, with the price increase going into effect as early as Jan. 27, 2014.
Endless Aisle, Short Wait

Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters optimize endless aisle with caching solution
Providing in-store customers with enhanced online “endless aisle” access to products can boost sales and customer service. But if the wait for endless aisle connectivity takes too long, its effectiveness is impacted.
Hands-on Shopping

Hointer converges mobile and in-store shopping
Hointer Inc., a Seattle-based denimwear retailer, may be new (the first store opened in April 2012) and small (two branded stores in Seattle plus a pop-up inside a Levi’s store in New York City), but its goal is impressively large.
Coldwater Creek Connects with ‘The New Fifty’

In August, women’s specialty apparel retailer Coldwater Creek, which operates 402 stores in 47 states, announced it had landed Deborah Cavanagh as its new chief marketing officer. She is charged with leading the multichannel brand’s marketing and creative services. One of Cavanagh’s first orders of business? To re-engage the Coldwater Creek core customer, as well as connect with new ones.
Silicon Valley’s Westfield Valley Fair reopens

Santa Clara, Calif. — Westfield Valley Fair celebrated its official grand re-opening with the debut of a multi-million dollar dining terrace and a fete for its expanded luxury collection in partnership with DuJour Magazine.

The remodeled 23,000-sq.-ft. public dining terrace caters to fast casual dining and entertainment programming. Shoppers can select from 18 eateries and enjoy comfortable lounge seating or an alfresco patio complete with fire pits and sculpture.
Alice + Olivia, from pop-up to permanent in Manhattan

New York — Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, and Joseph Aquino, executive VP of Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group have arranged a multi-level Soho flagship for Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet at 98 Greene Street between Spring and Prince Streets.
Retail RoadTrip: Fall NYC

Welcome to Chain Store Age’s Retail RoadTrip, a semi-regular update on cool new stores around the country. For this first outing, here’s a look at six stores creating buzz in the Big Apple.

1. Alexander McQueen
J. Crew deploys MasterCard’s digital wallet service, MasterPass

New York -- Starting in November, J. Crew consumers can take advantage of MasterPass at checkout, a digital wallet service enables shoppers to use any payment card or enabled device to unlock a simplified and speedier checkout experience whether they’re at home, in a store or on the go.
Von Maur enters Alabama

Davenport, Iowa -- Von Maur Department Store has opened its first store in the state of Alabama, at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. The 185,000-sq.-ft. store is also one of the company’s largest locations to date.

"After opening our first Southeastern location two years ago, we couldn't be more excited to continue building on our success in the region with the addition of our first Alabama location at Riverchase Galleria," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur."
Saks to open Off 5th in metro Jackson, Miss.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th plans to open a new store in Pearl, Miss., (metropolitan Jackson) on Nov. 14.

The 17,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in the Outlets of Mississippi in Rankin County, one of the fastest growing areas in the state. The outlet is developed by Spectrum Capital, an affiliate of the Yates Companies.