eCommerce

LONDON — The break-even forecast for the U.S. division of Tesco has been pushed back to early next year, the U.K. retail giant announced in its fiscal-year results.

Walmart and other retailers have fought unsuccessfully for years to level the e-commerce playing field in the United States by requiring Amazon.com and other online-only merchants to collect sales tax. Doing so would eliminate the Internet pure play retailers’ most significant competitive advantage, and for a glimpse of just how significant that would be, look no further than Canada.

Los Altos, Calif. -- Survey results released Thursday by catalog shopping app Catalog Spree showed that 89.8% of American shoppers would prefer to receive their catalogs digitally and would opt out of the paper versions if they could receive a digital copy instead.

The survey also revealed that more than half (55.1%) of respondents would prefer all of their catalogs in digital form. Today, some 19 billion catalogs are mailed in the United States each year.

Houston - Stage Stores said Thursday it has made Michael Glazer’s role as interim president and CEO a permanent one.

Glazer, a board member for the chain, was named interim chief following Andy Hall’s resignation in March.

According to Stage chairman William Montgoris, Glazer’s familiarity with the company’s growth and expansion strategy helped him secure the permanent role. “It became clear the company and its shareholders would be best served by making his appointment permanent," Montgoris said.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- HSN announced Thursday that it has appointed Nordstrom chief marketing officer Anne Martin-Vachon as its new chief merchant.

Effective May 14, Martin-Vachon’s will assume the position of chief merchandising officer for the multichannel retailer, charged with overseeing HSN's merchandising and planning teams. She will report directly to Mindy Grossman, CEO.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced it has acquired interests in The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso in El Paso, Texas, and The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pa.

The operating outlet centers are owned and managed by Horizon Group Properties and its affiliates.
 
CBL has acquired a 75% interest in The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso and a 50% interest in The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, for a total investment of $108.7 million.

Phoenix -- Cole Real Estate Investments and RED Development have announced the acquisition of Macerich’s interests in two retail power centers located in Chandler, Ariz.

In a related transaction, Cole acquired 100% ownership of a third power center located in Gilbert, Ariz. The transaction value for all three properties is $100.55 million.

Bridgeport, W.Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Planet Fitness will open a new gym at the company’s Meadowbrook Mall, located in Bridgeport, W.Va.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. facility is slated to open in September, in a space currently occupied by High Point Furniture.

The Meadowbrook Mall Complex, at nearly one million sq. ft., is anchored by Elder-Beerman, J.C. Penney, Target, Sears and Marshalls.
 

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate Inc. announced the following lease transactions were completed for several retail tenants:

A lease extension was signed with Tidewater Finance Co. for 25,516 sq. ft. of retail space in the DRE-leased and –managed Tidewater Plaza in Virginia Beach.

Whether employees at Target’s headquarters are able to hold meetings, work out, shoot baskets or have a cookout in a new downtown Minneapolis space is up for consideration on May 3 when the city’s zoning board of adjustment considers granting the retailer a variance.