Department Store

Sears has opened a freestanding store concept dedicated to two of its strongest categories.     Sears debuted its first store under the Sears Appliances & Mattresses banner, in Pharr, Texas. The format expands the concept of the Sears Appliance store, which opened in Ft. Collins, Colo. in 2016. The location has surpassed projections since its opening, Sears said.  

Indochino's recently opened showroom at West Edmonton Mall showcases the omnichannel brand's stylish approach to customized menswear apparel.   The 3,200-sq.-ft. space features eye-catching graphics, both on the exterior and interior, along with video screens that convey the brand's message of offering a “luxury tailoring experience without the high price tag.”   

When it comes to mobile, department stores have a ways to go.   That's according to an annual report by L2's annual L2 Digital IQ Index: Department Stores 2017, which benchmarks the digital performance of 64 department stores operating in 14 markets globally. The report examines a brand's strengths and weaknesses across the four digital dimensions of site and e-commerce, digital marketing, mobile, and social.   

Amazon may face a contender for Whole Foods Market.   JP Morgan research analysts said in a note that Walmart could step in as a rival bidder for the grocery chain, reported CNBC, attracted by Whole Foods' more affluent customer base and strong brand.   

Made-to-measure menswear brand Indochino continues its expansion from the Web into physical retail.       

While the pace of decline at B&N has eased, the company remains firmly in decline with sales down across the board. The saving grace is that a firm grip on costs, which were slashed by $137 million over the year, allowed the group to reduce losses for the quarter, and to post a $22 million net profit for the full fiscal.  

The first enclosed mall on Massachusetts South Shore will undergo a $40 million conversion to an open-air center under the ownership of a spun-off unit of Phillips Edison & Company.   The 732,000-sq.-ft. Hanover Mall in Pembroke Massachusetts — anchored by Macy’s, Sears, and Walmart — was purchased last fall by PECO Real Estate Partners, which operates under the name PREP. Built in 1971 and last renovated in 2004, the center has direct access to Route 3, the major thoroughfare joining towns south of Boston.

Sears Canada could file for Chapter 11 sooner than expected.   The struggling offshoot of Sears Holdings Corp., is preparing to seek court protection against its creditors. The filing — which could happen within weeks — will likely lead to a liquidation, with the business sold off in pieces, sources told Bloomberg.