Consumer Electronics

New York -- RadioShack unveiled a store remodeled to its new high-touch format, in Manhattan, with an additional Big Apple location set to open on Oct. 12. The format incorporates interactive areas designed to help shoppers improve their technology profile. The chain premiered the design in July, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Features of RadioShack’s updated design include:

Newly configured displays highlighting in-demand brands like Apple, HTC and Samsung, as well as mobile carriers such as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon;

Purchase, N.Y. -- Beyond the Rack, Currys, lastminute.com, Newegg and PC World have gone live on MasterPass, the digital platform from Master Card. More than 20,000 leading retailers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are now on the platform, according to Master Card.

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack Corporation is reportedly planning to raise funds before the end of this year to gain the confidence of suppliers in its turnaround effort. According to Bloomberg, RadioShack currently has enough liquidity to operate through 2014 but intends to raise additional cash through financing.

The 2014 International CES will feature a new exhibit area called “FashionWare,” focused on the latest innovation in wearable technology, event organizers announced.

Scheduled for January 7-10 in Las Vegas, the CES show, the timing is right for the FashionWare concept because the worlds of apparel, accessories and technology are becoming integrated, so much so in fact that event organizers are planning a wearable technology fashion show.

New York -- Shoppers in the United States are most likely to combine online and in-person sources when buying consumer electronics (70%), toys (66%), apparel (58%), and home appliances (57%), according to a new study by Gfk. At the low end of the omnichannel spectrum in the United States are cleaning products (14%), OTC medications (15%), and food and beverages (15%).

The study shows that, across 12 categories, 37% of U.S. shoppers – and 29% globally – are turning to both online and in-store shopping when making purchases.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group has closed the sale of Montgomery Plaza on behalf of Weingarten Realty Investors. American National Insurance Company purchased the 304,867-sq.-ft. shopping center, located in Conroe, Texas.

Montgomery Plaza retailers include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Big Lots, Conn’s Appliances, 99 Cents Only and Petco. In addition to the inline space, there are two multi-tenant pads and two single-tenant pads.

Montreal — Simon Property Group, SmartCentres and Calloway REIT hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 2 to begin construction of Premium Outlets Montreal, the second Premium Outlet Center in Canada.

Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Costco take top spots in ranking; Amazon continues to move up