Consumer Electronics

Oak Brook, Ill. - Eastwood Towne Center has signed J.Jill, who selected Eastwood Towne Center as their only location in Central Michigan. This follows on the heels of recent opening announcements by Apple, Sephora, Gymboree and a newly expanded Forever 21, also exclusive to Eastwood in Central Michigan.

The 3,600-sq.-ft. J. Jill store will be located next to Express and American Eagle. J.Jill is expected to open in the late fall.

The Mall at Short Hills (New Jersey) will launch the holidays with its 13th annual “Santa Paws” promotion, as shoppers have pictures taken with Santa--pets in tow. On Nov. 9 and Nov. 16, shoppers will bring their canine companions--in costume, if desired--to the Ice Palace at Grand Court on the lower level of The Mall at Short Hills and have a holiday photo taken.

Cincinnati -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of Buttermilk Towne Center in Crescent Springs (Cincinnati MSA), Kentucky. The 277,533-sq.-ft. center was purchased by Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust for $42 million.

The Woodlands, Texas - Conn’s Inc. missed Wall Street expectations for profits in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, as net income dropped 8% to $17.65 million from $19.16 million. In addition to charges related to facility closures, a significant increase in delinquent customer debt in the company’s credit segment negatively impacted net income results.

Meanwhile, total revenues soared 30% to $352.96 million from $270.69 million. Same-store sales rose 11.7%.

Mountain View, Calif. – Target’s back-to-school ad “Supplies They Need” resonated most with consumers among all back-to-school ads in 2014. According to TV and video advertising analytics provider Ace Metrix, consumers awarded an Ace Score of 673 to the Target spot.

The strategy at Conn’s to grow sales of its most profitable product lines have proved successful for the specialty retailer, which marked its 12th consecutive quarter of increasing same-store sales. But overall results were unsatisfactory, because provisions for credit losses were higher than expected, resulting in portfolio performance deterioration.

Chicago -- Pine Tree Commercial Realty has acquired Poplar-Prairie Stone Crossing, a class-A power shopping center located in the Northwest Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The recent acquisition is Pine Tree’s 70th and brings the company’s current portfolio to 3.4 million sq. ft. in 19 separate properties.

The 312,000-sq.-ft. shopping center is shadow-anchored by Target and features TJ Maxx, Michaels, Ross Dress for Less, PetSmart, Lane Bryant, and Sports Authority.

Richmond, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate, Inc. announced the signing of four leases, totaling 14,362 sq. ft. of office, industrial and retail space in metropolitan Richmond, Virginia.

The Hohman Group signed a lease for 6,307 sq. ft. of industrial space located at 3409 Leigh Street. The Hohman Group is an industrial design firm, which designs and prototypes products and furniture. In addition, their company, Action Figures, builds sets and decorates locations for motion pictures.