Consumer Electronics

Microsoft is opening its first Manhattan flagship store, with a major competitor conveniently nearby.

Microsoft Corp. has opened its first Manhattan flagship, within blocks of its major competitor.

The new Microsoft store is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, just several blocks away from Apple's Manhattan flagship with its famed glass cube entry. Microsoft has been planning the five-floor, 22,369-sq.-ft. store for more than six years.

Bismarck, N.D. -- The Woodmont Company and Northwest Contracting announce the completion and opening of the first phase of development of Hay Creek Shops in Bismarck, North Dakota. Hay Creek Shops is a regional power center on 33 acres that once complete will total more than 300,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants.

Amazon.com’s third quarter sales increased 23% to $25.4 billion and the online retailer and tech giant posted a huge improvement in profitability.

The company said operating income increased to $406 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to an operating loss of $544 million in third quarter 2014. Net income increased to $79 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with net loss of $437 million, or 95 cents a share, the prior year.

Century 21 Department Store will bring its high-fashions and low prices to a new location in the suburbs.

The company will open an approximately 70,000-sq.-ft., two-level store at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, on the South Shore of Long Island. The location will be the company’s tenth location.

Little Rock, Ark. -- New England Development opened Outlets of Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Oct. 16. The center welcomed thousands of area residents and visitors to shop at Arkansas’ only outlet center.

The newest destination for shopping in the region is home to first-to-market fashion retailers: Under Armour, Asics, Bass Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Cole Haan, Levi's Outlet Store, Lindt Chocolate Shop, Restoration Hardware and Skechers.

Ikea and Best Buy are among the top retailers supporting a U.S.-sponsored pledge to act on combating climate change.

President Barack Obama met with a group of business leaders Monday at the White House to announce the signatories of the American Business Act on Climate Pledge.

"The perception is that this is an environmental issue, it's for tree-huggers, and that hard-headed business people either don't care about it or see it as a conflict with their bottom lines," Obama said.