eCommerce

Ikea had submitted plans to build its ninth store in the state of California, in the Bay Area suburb of Dublin.

Pending approvals, Ikea could begin construction of the store in spring 2017, with an opening in summer 2018. The retailer plans to evaluate potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.

Charming Charlie is expanding its Middle East footprint.

The specialty retailer has opened its first location in Qatar, at the Ezdan Mall in Doha. The 2,900-sq.-ft. store is operated by Apparel Group, Charming Charlie’s international licensing partner, which has further growth planned for the brand in the Middle East this year.

Nordstrom has extended its special relationship with Hawaiians by opening a gem of a store in the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu.

The three-level, 186,000 square-foot store features new interior and exterior design concepts, a full-service restaurant and bar, cocktail lounge, new departments and an enhanced beauty shopping experience. Nordstrom has operated in Hawaii for 50 years and the new store is a replacement for a store the retailer opened at the other end of the mall just eight years ago.

Less than a month after Hudson’s Bay Company brought Saks Fifth Avenue to Canadian shoppers, the company this month is opening the first of 25 planned Saks Off 5th stores.

Three new Saks Off 5th stores are scheduled to open on March 17 in Vaughan Mills, Halton Hills and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The openings will allow Canadians to experience the ultimate "thrill of the hunt" shopping that Saks Off 5th is renowned for, with access to the some of the best brands and fantastic finds, in a fun to shop store format,” according to the company.

Earlier this month, DSW announced plans to acquire Ebuys Inc. an off-price footwear and accessories e-tailer. This news follows last month’s reports that Hudson’s Bay (the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and other department store chains) was acquiring Gilt Group.

Customers’ heightened expectations for a seamless experience are creating new profit pressures for retailers, including coping with increased return volumes. Shedding light on the new supply chain challenges associated with executing an omnichannel strategy is a new series of whitepapers from reverse logistics leader Genco. Learn more.

American’s dependence on their devices – and their tendency to break – has given rise to a new breed of retailer that promises to get its customer back in the digital game fast.

Carmel, Indiana-based uBreakiFix is on the move again in its home state with another new location in the Indianapolis market, its fourth in the area. UBreakiFix currently operates more than 170 stores after opening 63 locations last year. The fast-growing company expects to have 275 stores across North American by next year.