Apparel

Independent retailers deploy FlexReceipts digital receipts
Orlando, Fla. – Digital receipts solution provide FlexReceipts will provide its technology to several independent retailers including denim retailer Paige USA, sportswear retailer TravisMathew, men’s clothier Milton’s, Rusty Del Mar Surf Shop and Robert’s China.
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th to open at Minneapolis City Center
Minneapolis -- Shorenstein Properties LLC and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th has signed a lease for 40,321 sq. ft. in the retail portion of Minneapolis City Center, continuing the fashion retailer’s 25-year presence in downtown Minneapolis. The new store is slated to open April 2016.

“This city has been a strong market for us, and Minneapolis City Center provides us with a vibrant location in which to serve our exceedingly loyal customers,” said Jonathan Greller, president of Outlets, HBC.

Downtown L.A. continues resurgence with two major projects

Los Angeles -- Commercial builder Bernards is currently constructing two major downtown Los Angeles mixed-use projects: Grand and 12th, a major multifamily project in the popular South Park district, and Olive at Pico – both owned by The Wolff Company and designed by TCA Architects.

“[Grand and 12th] and Olive at Pico are vital residential projects and will fulfill an immediate need for housing in downtown Los Angeles,” said Carl Vizcarra, project executive with Bernards.
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall hosts large-scale Super Bowl event

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Mall owner Macerich is hosting a large-scale, week-long public event at its Scottsdale Fashion Square property, as a tie-in to the NFL’s Super Bowl XLIX showdown on Feb. 1 between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Fan Fest Scottsdale, held Jan. 26-Feb. 1, is designed to attract thousands of fans converging on metro Phoenix for pro football's biggest game of the year.
Five new tenants to open at Northville Park Place

Livonia, Mich. -- Schostak Brothers & Company has completed leases for five new tenants at its Northville Park Place property, located in Northville, Michigan.

A joint venture between Schostak Brothers & Company and REI Investment Group, the 65,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use development is set to welcome: Tom + Chee grilled cheese and tomato soup restaurant; Red Olive restaurant; Sports Clips; Gazelle Sports; and MOD Pizza.
Francesca’s to open at Governor’s Square Mall

Clarksville, Tenn. -- Francesca’s Collections will open a 1,353-sq.-ft. store at Cafaro’s Governor’s Square Mall, in Clarksville, Tennessee. The new store, located across from Gap/Gap Kids, is slated to open May 2015.

Governor’s Square Mall, owned and managed by Cafaro Company, comprises over one million sq. ft. of retail space. It is anchored by Dillard’s, Belk, Sears, J.C. Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Cinema Ten and over 100 other specialty shops and services.
Home Depot, Zappos, Office Depot among online customer service leaders

Chicago – One pure-play and six omnichannel retailers received top honors for their online customer service in the E-Tailing Group’s Q4 2014 Mystery Shopping Study. In alphabetical order, the top performers were Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kate Spade, Office Depot, Ross-Simons, The Home Depot, Williams-Sonoma, and Zappos.
Nielsen: U.S. consumer confidence on the rise

New York - With gas prices down 31% since June 2014 and oil prices tumbling to their lowest levels in several years, American consumer confidence has improved dramatically. According to the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Report, in fourth quarter 2014 U.S. consumer confidence went up 12 percentage points year-over-year.
Retail Rap: You Win Some, You Lose Some

Overall holiday shopping season sales numbers have been rolling in, and the news confirms what many retail real estate analysts (including myself) suspected: 2014 holiday sales were strong. Nothing earth-shattering — but plenty good enough to chalk this one up as a win. There were some bright and not-so-bright spots (December sales were weaker than expected, for example, and numbers didn’t hit some of the more optimistic overall projections), but the takeaway is that we did see the anticipated increase that the industry was looking for.
Genesco streamlines supply chain with DiCentral

Nashville, Tenn. - Genesco Inc. has selected DiCentral to help streamline the company’s supply chain management processes and provide better exchanges of data with suppliers. Genesco selected DiConnect Enterprise as its EDI (EDI/INT) solution.

In addition to connecting with the DiCentral Network, Genesco also plans to use DiConnect to exchange data with its large suppliers. DiConnect is a scalable, Internet EDI solution for enterprises seeking to exchange purchase orders, invoices and other business documents with trading partners.
ShoeBuy purchases stake in Boston Boot Company

Boston - ShoeBuy, a global online retailer of shoes and clothing, is expanding into footwear manufacturing. The company has acquired a minority stake in Boston Boot Company.

Now, the complete Boston Boot Company product line is available at ShoeBuy.com, bringing the brand to millions of shoppers. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
ShoeBuy buys stake in Boston Boot Co.

ShoeBuy, a global online retailer of shoes and clothing, is expanding into footwear manufacturing.

The company has acquired a minority stake in Boston Boot Company. Now, the complete Boston Boot Company product line will be available at ShoeBuy.com, bringing the brand to millions of shoppers. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.