Department Store

Von Maur is slowly expanding its Dry Goods women’s specialty store format.   The retailer has opened a 4,000-sq.-ft. store at Woodland Mall. Since launching in 2010, Dry Goods has grown to 19 locations across six states.   Dry Good’s name and  store design were inspired by Von Maur's heritage as a dry goods store, dating back to 1872 in downtown Davenport, Iowa.    

Casto has been successful building shopping centers in Ohio for 70 years because it’s not afraid to shift with the times, Don M. Casto III said in yesterday’s edition of the Columbus Dispatch.   The company has increasingly joined forces with other developers on mixed-use projects and turned back to its roots of building residences and retail buildings in downtown Columbus, the paper reported.   

Kmart continues to shrink.   The chain is closing another 64 stores, Marketwatch.com reported.   The latest round of closings are in addition to a decision by Kmart parent Sears Holdings Corp. last April to close 68 Kmart stores this year, the report said.   Kmart operated 941 stores as of Jan. 30, meaning it has now announced plans to close about 14% of its locations.

As more retailers announce their seasonal hiring plans, filling omnichannel-supporting roles will be a priority.  

With the FBI calling the attack at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Minn., that injured eight people a “potential act of terrorism,” the public’s fear about safety has been heightened. In fact, the news these days is saturated with danger signals. Some people feel the threat of public spaces more acutely than others.   

Gone are the days when Black Friday signified the official launch of the holiday shopping season.    In fact, nearly half (49%) of shoppers will have a bulk of their holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving Day, according to a new survey from market intelligence solutions provider Market Track. And digital deals will be the catalyst.  

A South African-based company is now the owner of the largest mattress retailer in the United States.   Steinhoff International Holdings NV announced it completed its acquisition of Mattress Firm Holding Corp.    As a result of the completion of the transaction, which was first announced in August, Mattress Firm’s common stock will no longer be traded on the NASDAQ stock market.  

Consumers’ new ‘buy now, wear now’ mentality it putting them at odds with retailers, many of whom are already pushing outerwear and other cold weather gear.