Department Store

Forever 21 is growing its its lower-priced format, F21 RED.

The chain has opened three new stores, with locations in Brooklyn, New York; San Diego, California and Kendall, Florida. The Brooklyn store is 35,000 sq. ft., while the San Diego and Kendall locations are more than 20,000 sq. ft.

Forever 21 launched F21 RED, which carries merchandise for men, women and children, in the first quarter of 2014. There are currently more than 20 F21 locations in the United States.

As Walmart prepares to launch its Walmart Pay mobile pay solution, the discounter should study Starbucks’ success in the mobile payments area, according to a report by TheStreet.

Starbucks rolled out its mobile wallet in 2011, and mobile payment now accounts for 21% of all transactions in U.S. company-owned stores. If Walmart wants to get even close to those numbers, it will have to follow Starbucks’ lead and make sure that its mobile payment solution provides a real value to consumers.

Return fraud during the holidays is a growing problem for retailers—and also an extremely expensive one.

A new technology platform has been launched with a very specific goal: to help retailers convert their online browsers into shoppers at their brick-and-mortar stores.

The solution, a scalable SaaS platform from Brickwork, is designed to elevate the customer experience from site to store. It seeks to revolutionize the online “store locator” function by enriching the data and content around physical locations for brands with hundreds, and even thousands, of locations.

Retailers need to improve several aspects of their omnichannel customer engagement strategies if they want to truly satisfy customers.

When it comes to retail diversity, Manhattan is about as inclusive as it gets.

A first-of-its-kind survey of 906 existing retailers in three of Manhattan’s leading shopping districts (SoHo, Fifth Avenue, and Madison Avenue) found a virtual “United Nations” of merchants originating from 26 countries. The Cushman & Wakefield study found that nearly four out of 10 retailers – 39% -- originate from outside the United States.

Shoppers are expected to turn out in droves this coming Saturday (“Super Saturday”) and also on Sunday, the last weekend before Christmas.

The retail comeback of the New York City borough of Staten Island continues.

BFC Partners, which is developing Staten Island’s 340,000-sq.-ft. Empire Oulets center, announced it will develop an artisanal food market showcasing the best local and international purveyors for the center.

BFC is partnering with the creative team behind Gansevoort Market on the project.