eCommerce

Texas is the go-to state for real estate developers in the U.S. and Canada, according to PwC and the Urban Land Institute.   In the 38th annual edition of the joint study, “Emerging Trends in Real Estate,” investment companies surveyed named Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth as the top two cities for development. The Northwest put in the second-best showing, with Portland and Seattle coming in at numbers three and four.  

Starting Nov. 1, more than 5 million Sears MasterCard holders whose cards are linked to the Shop Your Way program will earn more Shop Your Way points at Kmart and many of their favorite retailers.   These Sears MasterCard holders will automatically earn more Shop Your Way points on a complimentary basis through December 31, 2017, including:

• 5% back in points on eligible purchases made at gas stations;
• 3% back in points on eligible purchases at grocery stores and restaurants

Journeys’ new gifting program is primed to personalize the shopping experience among its young customer base.   While this segment is too young to carry credit cards, teens are digitally savvy and increasingly mobile-driven. Leveraging these factors, Journeys is launching an online and digital gift card program across three of its brands.   

Are landlords on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue shooting themselves in the foot by demanding record new rents for the famed shopping address?    The availability rate on Fifth Avenue increased to 15.9% in the third quarter, up from about 10% from a year earlier, according to Cushman & Wakefield Inc., Bloomberg reported.    

Retailers could see record Web traffic this year, according to Deloitte's 31st annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends.   

Current retail thinking that the high and the low ends are driving the industry has gotten a boost from CBRE Group.   High street rents are off the charts worldwide, according to company’s just-released Global Retail Rents report. Rents in prime shopping locations during the second quarter were up 30% in Rome, 24%, 20% in Milan, and 14% in Sydney and New York.  

U.S. shoppers love mobile commerce, yet mobile payments still account for just 2% of all transactions.  

Google is expanding the reach of its online delivery service.   Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25, Google Express is now available in another 13 states, according to USA Today. Shoppers access the online marketplace via Google’s web site or through an app. Deliveries, which are made by third party delivery companies, arrive within two days.