Apparel

Another iconic U.S. brand has opened its own freestanding store. Ice hockey equipment giant Bauer Hockey, founded in 1927, made its brick-and-mortar debut, in Burlington, Massachusetts. The 20,000-sq.-ft. store, called

Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota

Size: 155,000 sq. ft.

Owner: 1700 Plymouth LLC (a joint venture, including co-developers Paster Properties LLC and Bader Development LLC)

Key Tenants: Signed lease with Highland Bank, and currently in negotiations with several retailers

Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Size: 63-acre mixed-use development, 175,000 sq. ft. to 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space and riverside restaurants, 20 acres of multi-family and townhomes, 200,000 sq. ft. of office space, and a signature hotel site

Owner: Trademark Property Co. Key Tenants: Whole Foods Market, REI, Taco Diner, Zoes Kitchen, Blaze Fire’d Pizza and Sleep Train

In its 11th year, the Top Redevelopers survey remains relevant as more shopping center companies redevelop than build anew – although the redevelop vs. develop scales are more in balance now than they were five years ago.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. is launching a micro-restaurant program dedicated to attracting unique restaurant concepts to Waterside in Fort Worth, Texas.

Studies indicate that online shoppers abandon websites that do not offer free returns shipping. This only makes sense, as the allure of e-commerce is convenience, a broad selection of merchandise, and competitive prices. Free shipping — from delivery through return — keeps the total purchase price similar to in-store shopping.

But there are two sides to free returns.

1. Free Returns Increase Sales

Experiential retail is alive and well at PGA Tour Superstore.

The company, which has the distinction of being the PGA Tour’s exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner, has built a business dedicated to providing golf enthusiasts of all levels access to the same technology and expertise that card-carrying Tour pros enjoy. Stores are staffed with teaching professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays and large putting greens. There is also an in-house club-making and repair facility.

Social media has evolved into a powerful marketing tool for retailers. But so far, social commerce is not yet a major transactional channel.

Twitter is the latest social platform to attempt to take advantage of social media’s immediacy to offer direct purchase functionality aimed at impulse shoppers.