Department Store

New York -- The world’s largest retailers have been scaling back their global expansion activities, particularly in Asia, and turning their attention inward by integrating operations and strengthening their store, Internet and mobile sales channels, according to a new report by Accenture.
    

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers -- C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

As part of Von Maur's march beyond its core Heartland markets, in 2008 it opened a 130,000-sq.-ft. anchor store at the 1.1 million-sq.-ft. The Greene Town Center, located in Beavercreek, Ohio, and owned by MPI. That store has become the fashion heartbeat of a vibrant mixed-use destination that was originally built by MPI in 2006, expanded in 2008, and slated to expand again in 2014 with another 40,000 sq. ft. of retail.

NEW YORK — Luxury specialty retailer Barneys has partnered with the estate of Roy Lichtenstein and Art Production Fund to launch a limited-edition collection of home goods, available exclusively at stores this summer.

Flipping the coin
Last August in this space, I discussed the troubling sales trends and tumbling earnings from iconic retailer J.C. Penney, mentioning that the growing pains associated with implementing CEO Ron Johnson’s ambitious brand overhaul might have been a case of “too much too soon.” Given that Ron Johnson is now ex-CEO, it’s clear that those growing pains were too much to overcome.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Among the highlights of the first Sears Holdings shareholder meeting since Edward Lampert became chairman and CEO were details on the company's progress in combining its brick-and-mortar and online businesses.

Toronto native Sarah Stevenson won a design contest this week and with it the right to design a collection of a dozen pieces that will be featured in Target’s Canadian stores.

A report in the Wall Street Journal referred to the boost that is expected to result from Stevenson’s selection as the winner of the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s annual design contest as the "Target bump."

Sometimes, to meet consumer demand you have to get creative. That’s what developer Centergy Retail, LLC, Dallas, did in the conceptualization of a hybrid power-lifestyle center in the heart of El Paso, Texas.

One of the few ground-up developments in the U.S., The Fountains at Farah will open October 2013 with 600,000 sq. ft. of best-in-class national junior anchor stores, fashion and name brand retailers, and upscale boutiques, restaurants and retail service uses.