Discount Store

New York -- Retail expansion in the United States has not come to an end, but its focus has shifted. That’s one of the findings contained in the 2014 ChainLinks Retail Advisors U.S. National Retail Investment Forecast Report.

Boston -- Walmart continues to extend its lead and again achieves its price leadership position over Target, in Kantar Retail’s semi-annual pricing study. Target’s overall grocery and consumables basket has been more expensive than Walmart’s since the study was performed in January 2011.

With an overall branded basket 3.8% less expensive than Target’s, Walmart extended its lead over its rival from June 2013 when Walmart’s overall basket was only 2% cheaper than Target’s.

Remember 2011 and 2012? Back then, the forecasters were saying that the economy would probably be sluggish through 2013. After that, starting in 2014, growth would return.

Ottawa, Canada -- Well-executed dynamic pricing strategies, such as those deployed by Amazon and Overstock, led to higher sales during the 2013 holiday season as opposed to all-season discounting and other strategies. In its “Retail’s 2013 Holiday Winners and Losers” report, pricing intelligence vendor 360pi rated retailers’ overall financial performance for the 2013 fourth quarter on a scale from +5 (above expectations/excellent) to -5 (below expectations/very poor) based on third-party financial analysts’ overall assessments.

San Francisco – Gap Inc. reportedly plans a substantial increase in its Gap and Old Navy store count in China during the next several years. Reuters reports that Gap plans to add 30 stores to its existing 81 Chinese locations.

Virginia Beach, Va. — Divaris Real Estate has announced four new retail leases in the greater Richmond area.

Friendly Motors has leased 5,000 sq. ft. in the Divaris-leased and –managed Belt Trade Center.

Zoe’s Kitchen has taken 2,800 sq. ft. in The Corner at Short Pump. DRE’s Richmond office represented the tenant in the negotiations.

New York -- After over 25 years in business, Dots, an Ohio-based women’s fashion discount retailer, is closing its doors.  Store-closing sales will begin on Friday, March 1, with discounts on all merchandise, as well as store furniture, fixtures and equipment. Dots filed for Chapter 11 protection on January 20, 2014.

As far as sales go, Sears Holdings didn’t have a very happy holiday. But the company was still able to narrow its loss for the fourth quarter, as it lowered expenses and reduced inventory.

The company said the costs of transforming into a member-centric retailer using an integrated online platform and the omnichannel Shop Your Way membership program fueled its net losses. It attributed declining revenues to lower same-store sales and having fewer stores in operation.