eCommerce

Ask 728 people whether shopping on a smartphone or tablet is more attractive than visiting a retail location and more than half will say that it is, according to the 2013 Mobile Commerce Study produced by Hipcricket, a Kirkland, Wa.-based provider of unified mobile engagement platforms.

Connect Address, a leading provider of cloud-based solutions for increasing online shopping cart conversions in real-time, has named Tom Flynn as the company's CEO.

"I am excited and pleased to be working with such a forward-thinking team and product," said Flynn. "Most companies in our space address shopping cart abandonment with basic retroactive tools. Connect Address delivers software and solutions to improve clients' social media presence, increase Web traffic and convert online shopping carts in real-time."

E-commerce facilitator Newgistics has opened three new distribution facilities in Kentucky, California and Illinois encompassing more than 600,000 square feet.

Centreville, Va. — Lotte Plaza International Grocer has leased 47,000 sq. ft. at the 200,366-sq.-ft. Centreville Square II in Centreville, Va., and plans to open next spring.

The Asian market will join Party Depot, Sleepy’s Mattress Professionals, Five Guys, Wells Fargo, Hair Cuttery and The UPS Store.

New York -- Whole Foods Market has signed a lease for a 29,000-sq-ft. store in Newark, N.J., according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

The store is expected to be an anchor tenant in a 112-year-old landmark building that was once occupied by the Hahne & Co. department store. The building is being converted into a multi-use space that will feature apartments, retail and office space.
The project is a joint partnership between the Newark-based Hanini Group and L&M Development Partners of New York.

New York -- Retailers reported somewhat disappointing same-store sales for September.  While only a handful of chains still report their monthly revenues, the tepid results of those that do raised concerns about the upcoming holiday season.
    
Gap Inc. reported that its same-store sales in September 2013 net sales were down 3% versus a 6% increase for September 2012. Net sales were flat compared with last year, totaling $1.46 billion compared with net sales of $1.45 billion for the year-ago period.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced a new price match policy that the company said ensures customers pay the lowest price – both in stores and online. Staples said it will price match items sold and shipped by Amazon.com or any retailer who sells products in both retail stores and online under the same brand.

Boston – College students most frequently eat snack foods in the afternoon and are frequently replacing meals with snacks. A new study from marketing agency Fluent shows that 75% of college students replace meals with snacks and afternoon snacking is three times more popular than morning or late night snacking.

Other notable findings of the survey college students age 18-25 include:

Seattle -- REI announced it will open a 22,000-sq.-ft. store at Keizer Station, Keizer, Ore., this coming spring.

“REI prides itself on expert employees and quality products that enhance anyone’s trip into the great outdoors,” said Kevin House, REI retail director for the Sierra-Cascade district. “The new store at Keizer Station will extend our services and product expertise to 13,300 eager and loyal members in Salem, who previously traveled more than 30 miles to shop at an REI store.”

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores has put its ambitious expansion plans in India on hold indefinitely. The discounter and its joint venture partner in India, Bharti Enterprises, are parting ways after six years, the companies announced.