Department Store

New York City -- Interactive media company enVu said it has partnered with mall owner CBL & Associates Properties to deploy an immersive advertising platform, enSpire, within select CBL shopping centers located throughout the nation’s Top 20 designated market areas.

The enSpire platform utilizes interactive floor projection displays that engage consumer interaction with the featured content while providing a memorable experience for mall visitors and enhancing brand recognition and purchase intent for advertisers.

Walmart's efforts to open in New York City were helped last week when a new poll, released Friday, found that New Yorkers would shop at Walmart if one opened in the city. No kidding? Target is already there and New Yorkers love Target, so it stands to reason they will love Walmart too even though the companies offer a slightly different value proposition and Walmart comes with a lot more baggage.

New York City -- British footwear and apparel retailer L.K. Bennett plans to open 30 to 40 stores in the United States during the next three to five years, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

The company will open its first U.S. stores this spring, with British footwear and apparel retailer L.K. Bennett plans to open 30 to 40 stores in the United States during the next three to five years, Women’s Wear Daily reported.locations in Chicago and Atlanta.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties said that eleven of its malls in the Midwestern U.S. handed out 6,000 gifts during National Random Acts of Kindness week, Feb. 14-20.

The program is designed to give back to the community and support local nonprofit groups.

New York City -- Shoppers plan to wait until next year and beyond to spend generously again, a survey on Monday showed, in an early sign that rising gasoline prices could make the spring selling season tough for retailers, Reuters reported.

About three-quarters of Americans surveyed by America's Research Group said they were shopping less due to rising gas prices, with more than 62% of the participants planning to spend generously only next year or beyond.

Retail is a hard enough business without muddying the waters with all sorts of activities that have nothing to do with selling stuff shoppers want and need. To recap, Target gave some money to a homophobic politician who a lot of people thought was a jerk, which created an uprising in the gay and lesbian community and resulted in the company adopting a new policy to govern the political contribution process.

New York City -- Finnish retailer Marimekko will open a flagship in Manhattan this fall. The company is also expanding its collaboration with Crate & Barrel.

The 4,000-sq.-ft. store will feature Marimekko’s wide-ranging product mix, which includes furnishings fabrics, home goods, apparel and accessories. It will be designed by the Japanese architectural firm IMA.

New York City -- Shareholders of Jo-Ann Stores on Friday approved a $1.6 billion merger with an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners.

Of all the shares that were voted, more than 99% were in favor of the agreement. Those in favor of the pact represented 82 of outstanding shares. The company expects the deal to close Friday.

The company will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.