eCommerce

By Ryan Condren, CPEX Real Estate

New York  -- Foot Locker posted better than expected fourth quarter earnings on Friday, amid strong holiday sales. Net income jumped 21% to $146 million in the quarter, up from $121 million last year.

Total sales in the quarter increased 6.7% to $1.91 billion, also beating estimates of $1.87 billion. Same-store sales rose 10%.

Peoria, Ill. -- Apparel and accessories retailer Leopard Boutique will open a 1,273-sq.-ft. store at The Streets of St. Charles, in Peoria, Illinois. The trendy boutique has finalized its lease and will join the mixed-used development in May as the newest retail store in the development.

Leopard Boutique will be located in suite 150 at the ground level near the cross streets of Beale Street and Nichols Road at the base of the five-story luxury residential apartment building that is currently 85% occupied.

Savvy retailers using technology to update look, feel of physical stores

What’s going to keep people coming back to physical store locations, as comfort levels with e-commerce rise every year? Savvy retailers are fighting technology with technology, refreshing the look and feel of their stores by integrating more gadgets, and using data in a more integrated way to inform strategy.

Technology is helping stores provide shoppers with a personalized experience.

Putting aside all the challenges at Staples – weak demand, activist investor pressure to change its board and an uphill battle to acquire its largest competitor – one aspect of the company’s business is encouraging.

Although the company’s results for the fourth quarter were not good on either an as reported or adjusted basis, the commercial division achieve respectable sales growth and in the fourth quarter was the most profitable of Staples three business segments.

Open-air centers go far beyond shopping

Seattle – If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Amazon.com is reportedly heeding that old saw with plans to open a store on the Tmall site of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Holding Group.

Seattle -- Nordstrom on Friday opened the doors to its store at Rideau Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. The 157,000-sq.-ft. store is the retailer’s second location to date in Canada.

"We are thrilled to welcome Nordstrom to Rideau Centre, which is a major milestone and component in the shopping centre's $360 million multi-year redevelopment project," said John Sullivan, president and CEO, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited.