Consumer Electronics

GRAPEVINE, Texas — As retailers large and small vie for foot traffic during the highly competitive back-to-school season, GameStop is focusing its efforts on the segment of its market that is on summer vacation.

The multichannel video game retailer has launched a five-week Summer Playcation promotion the offers gamers deals now through Aug. 18 in all U.S. GameStop locations.

By Mike Harris, [email protected]

City of Commerce, Calif. – 99 Cents Only Stores is opening new stores in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. and Kingman, Ariz. on July 25. Both will be the first 99 Cents Only stores in those municipalities.

The retailer will be offering special 99-cent deals on items such as flat-screen TVs and scooters to the first customers in line on opening day.

Average spending per school age child is expected to decline this year from 2012 levels, according to the National Retail Federation, setting the stage for heightened competition in an already intensely competitive seasonal selling period.

NRF said spending per child in grades K-12 would decline to $634 in 2013 compared to $688 last year and spending per college student would decline to $836 from $907. The trade group forecast total K-12 spending of $26.7 billion and total back-to-college spending of $45.8 billion for a combined market size of $72.5 billion.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Regional shopping center company Crosland Southeast has acquired 24 former Blockbuster stores from Blockbuster Corporate, spanning North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida. Blockbuster vacated all stores at closing, and Crosland Southeast has already sold 11 of the 24.

NEW YORK — The average household is expected to spend about $285 on back-to-school items this year, with 39% of consumers planning to spend more than last year and 45% planning to spend about the same. 

According to a new study from the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman-Sachs, 29% of households surveyed have started to shop for back-to-school items, which is lower than the 33% that had started at this time last year but more than in any other year since 2004.

More of a mass market future could be in the cards for the Oreck Corporation following acquisition of its assets this week by TTI Group’s Royal Appliance subsidiary, which manufactures well known home improvement and housewares brands.

Oreck filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and this week the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee approved the sale of its assets to Royal Appliance for a little more than $17 million and the assumption of certain debt obligations.

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate has represented the landlords in the renewal of five leases covering more than 18,500 sq. ft. in Hampton Roads, Va., retail properties.

Two of the leases were with Willow Oaks Associates, landlord of Willow Oaks Village Square Shopping Center in Hampton. The City of Hampton renewed a 7,778-sq.-ft. space, and Virginia ABC renewed its 3,300-sq.-ft. lease.

Mattress Firm renewed for 3,982 sq. ft. with JLP Chesapeake, owner of the Crossways Shopping Center in Chesapeake.