eCommerce

Sport Chalet has opened its first urban retail concept, at the renovated FIGat7th center in downtown Los Angeles. Sleek and contemporary looking, the 27,000-sq.-ft. store puts the emphasis on education and training, with a dedicated central area, the “Expert Center,” for classes and clinics. It’s designed to facilitate customer interaction with in-store experts on any topic, ranging from bike repair to the area’s best surfing spots.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Branded footwear and accessories retailer DSW recently leveraged social media to hold a contest encouraging existing and potential consumers to vote for nonprofit organizations nominated by DSW employees.

As part of the retailer's Shoe Lovers Care Leave Your Mark program, DSW employees nominated nearly 200 nonprofit organizations for the opportunity to win a grant. Finalists were selected by DSW and then presented via social media for public voting, which wrapped up in late June 2013.

New York -- The growing appeal of smaller format stores and the increasing number of international moves by emerging market retailers are two of the key trends revealed in the Accenture Globalization Index, Quarter One 2013.

Winson-Salem, N.C. – Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation has completed the sale of three company-owned stores in the Dallas market to Sun Life Holdings LLC as part of a broader agreement where Sun Holdings has agreed to develop 15 additional Krispy Kreme locations in the market during the next five years. Sun Holdings operates nearly 400 restaurants in Texas and Florida, including the Burger King, Popeye's, Arby's, CiCi's, Golden Corral and Del Taco brands. The company also operates 13 T-Mobile stores.

San Diego -- Fixtures Living, which specializes in premium lifestyle products for the home, is changing its name to "PIRCH." The official switchover occurs on Aug. 29.

STAMFORD, Conn. — GE Capital Retail Bank’s second annual Major Purchase Shopper Study has found that a growing number of consumers extensively research and compare prices and financing offers before making major purchases.

New York -- Canadian grocery giant Loblaw Cos. will test a new retail concept called Nutshell Live Life Well, a freestanding brand targeted to health-conscious shoppers, the Financial Post reported. The move comes as Whole Foods Market eyes greater expansion in Canada.

The first Nutshell will open this fall in downtown Toronto. It will feature a broad assortment of prepared, fresh and packaged foods, a prescription pharmacy, natural health and beauty products, vitamins and supplements.

Twinkies fans devastated by the news that their Hostess snack cake was to be no more have been waiting for its comeback Monday, July 15. Walmart wants those folks to know that they don't need to wait until Monday to treat themselves.

“Twinkies Watch” is officially on at the retailer. Starting today, the new Hostess Twinkies will be available at select Walmart stores nationwide. All domestic U.S. stores will be fully stocked by 12:01 a.m. Sunday, July 14, and stores in Hawaii and Alaska in the coming weeks.