eCommerce

Fashion and department stores, perhaps more than other retail segments, understand the benefits of visual merchandising. Consumers may set out to shop for a specific item, but seeing “that item” curated as part of an outfit with related garments and accessories is a surefire way to upsell complementary apparel.

Washington, D.C. -- Gerald S. Divaris, chairman and CEO of Divaris Real Estate, announced the company negotiated five leases totaling 17,469 sq. ft. of commercial space in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., market.

Wash ‘N Dry - leased 5,792 sq. ft. of retail space at Ashdale Plaza located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Retailers at the center include: Family Dollar, Popeye’s, Wells Fargo, Goodwill and Davita. The landlord, A.R. Kronstadt Realty Investors, was represented by DRE’s Susan McGee.

I previously wrote a column about the benefits opening physical stores can offer pure play online retailers. Inspired by the recent completion of the Hudson’s Bay-Gilt acquisition, this week I’d like to examine three instant advantages purchasing a pure play retailer can provide to brick-and-mortar chains.

Instant Expertise

Several published reports are indicating that Kohl’s has eliminated three senior level leadership positions.

Kohl’s has reportedly eliminated the positions of chief digital officer, senior vice president of store environment and development, and senior vice president of communications and public relations. Retailing Today was unable to independently confirm the jobs cuts or the identify of executives involved. Kohl’s representatives were unavailable for comment.

Visa Inc. has disclosed an investment stake that indicates it has a strong interest in helping retailers process mobile transactions.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Visa said it holds 3.5 million shares in payment processing provider Square, equal to a 10% stake. The investment was worth about $30 million as of Thursday, Feb. 11.

Whole Foods shoppers looking for organic kale smoothies and non-GMO dog food could soon also get a tattoo while in-store.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Whole Foods CEO Walter Robb  says his company’s new 365 chain is going to try some tactics outside of the conventional grocery-store playbook, including setting up tattoo parlors in the stores.

Read more about the company's plans by clicking here.

The term “impulse buy” has a negative connotation to many. Picking up that guilty pleasure snack in the checkout line at the supermarket, that gadget you don’t really need, or those shoes that are on sale all qualify.

For the fourth consecutive year, a department store has nabbed the top spot in a survey of the nation’s favorite fashion retailers.

Nordstrom took the top spot in the study, by Market Force Information.  Interestingly, severak discount retailers moved up the list this year, with Marshalls landing in the No. 2 spot. H&M and Ross Dress for Less tied for third, Kohl’s was fourth and Macy’s was fifth.