eCommerce

New York -- An Irish fast-fashion leader is getting ready to make its U.S. debut.

Primark, known for its value prices and on-trend fashions for the entire family, leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its entry into the United States.

North Plainfield, N.J. -- Levin Management announced it has been named the exclusive leasing agent for two New Jersey properties: Whiting Town Center in Whiting Township and Fords Shopping Center in Woodbridge Township.

Whiting Town Center is a 118,000 sq. ft. grocery-anchored property with a mix of retail, restaurant and service tenants. Earlier this year Levin was retained by new ownership to continue its role as managing agent for Whiting Town Center.  

New York -- Disney unleashed its considerable marketing prowess on Friday and retailers were hoping the company’s “force” would translate into big sales.

On Friday, the entertainment giant formally debuted hundreds of toys and other products related to its upcoming — and hugely anticipated — film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”  

Menlo Park, Calif. – As eBay celebrates its 20th anniversary, a new competitor in the online trading market is emerging.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook is making it easier for consumers to use its Groups feature to buy, sell and/or trade goods.

Facebook began allowing users to create “for sale” groups late in 2014. However, the social media giant is no longer requiring creators of for sale groups to obtain its official approval before launching them.

Livonia, Mich. -- It’s Labor Day, time to start thinking about Halloween.

In anticipation of one it calls of the largest retail holidays in the U.S., costume superstore, Halloween City, is creating thousands of temporary jobs to staff the hundreds of Halloween City stores now opening across the country.

The retailer is recruiting up to 10,000 new employees to fill temporary management and store associate positions nationwide.

Back in September 2013, I wrote a TechBytes column about how millennials aren’t that different from prior young generations in their interests and needs. I have since realized there are a few unique millennial social trends which reflect specific generational consumer attributes. Using leading-edge technology, retailers can effectively meet the generational needs of this increasingly important customer demographic.

Rock is Dead

Garden City, N.Y. -- Simon announced that Roosevelt Field, located in Garden City, New York, has entered its final stages of redevelopment, and also released the names of retail brands to occupy the new two-level retail wing. Most of the stores, with some opening early September, will make their Long Island debut. The new wing will lead to the area's first Neiman Marcus store opening in February 2016.

San Jose, Calif. -- The back-to-school season traditionally gives retailers a much-needed boost, bringing traffic into stores in August. How did things turn out this year?

Not so great it turns out, according to RetailNext Inc., which provides retail analytics for brick-and-mortar stores. The firm’s, monthly Retail Performance Pulse revealed a 7.3% year-over-year decrease in sales on a 9.9% decline in traffic at physical stores for the retail month of August (Aug. 2 through Aug. 29 on the retail 4-5-4 calendar).