eCommerce

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — D&G Pets, a local fish and exotic pet shop in Fort Collins, Colo., is diving into e-commerce waters in an effort to retain existing customers and reach out to new ones. 

The local retailer launched an online store so consumers can purchase pet supplies from their computers or mobile devices — leveraging technology to remain competitive in a field dominated by larger pet supply chains. 

New York -- North American consumers opened their wallets in the first quarter of 2013 and exhibited a desire to spend again, although they remain cautious, according to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. Forty-two percent said they plan to spend on discretionary items this year, a six-point rise from fourth quarter 2012, and up from the average of 33% over the past three years.

Canton, Mass. -- Destination XL Group on May 5 launched a national advertising campaign designed to draw attention to the many challenges men who wear extra large sizes face when shopping for clothes and position Destination XO stores as the one-stop-shopping solution for the style needs of this underserved consumer.

Cary, N.C. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group announced that Petco has leased 12,500 sq. ft. at Parkside Town Commons, located in Cary, N.C.
 
As well, Total Wine & More has leased 23,890 sq. ft. at International Speedway Square, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

El Paso, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial Real Estate said it has negotiated leases for two retailers entering or expanding in the El Paso, Texas, market.
 
Rue21 has opened a 5,000-sq.-ft. store at El Paseo Marketplace, its fourth location in El Paso.

Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry has signed a lease to open its first El Paso location in a 6,057-sq.-ft. store at The Fountains at Farah, a 600,000-sq.-ft. power lifestyle center currently under construction and opening fall 2013.   

New York -- RKF has arranged a 1,500-sq.-ft. lease at 35 Crosby Street in SoHo for men’s e-commerce apparel brand Bonobos, which will open its first stand-alone Guideshop location in New York City.

Bonobos currently operates five other brick-and-mortar locations elsewhere.

In the cast iron district of SoHo, the retailer will operate in 1,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 500 sq. ft. on the lower level of the seven-story building. The new store is slated to open in mid-May.

Huntsville, Ala. -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty has completed construction on Huntsville, Ala.’s first Academy Sports + Outdoors. The 72,000-sq.-ft. store, which opened on April 26, is the third Academy Sports development for GBT. Reed Construction served as site contractor and Stewart Perry Construction as general contractor on the project.

GBT completed construction in fall 2012 for stores in Mobile, Ala., and Smyrna, Tenn.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — OrderGroove, a leader in subscription retail solutions, has appointed Mike Camp as COO.

SAN DIEGO — Petco's National Adoption Weekend coincides with Mother's Day, and to honor mom on her special day, the retailer is showcasing moms who have adopted or fostered a pet in need while trying to find homes for pets in shelters.

Petco will hold adoption events nationwide from Saturday, May 11 through Sunday, May 12. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet pets in need of homes, speak with local adoption groups about fostering and learn how to properly care for a new pet's physical, mental, social and emotional needs.