eCommerce

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said that it represented buyer The Georgetown Co. in the acquisition of 35 North State Street, a 60,000-sq.-ft. building in Chicago, for $23 million.

The building is currently net-leased to Old Navy and serves as the retailers’ Chicago flagship. 

MINNEAPOLIS -- Consumer electronics become outdated almost as soon as the public learns about them, so electronics trade-in services, such as the one offered by Target, help consumers stay on top of the latest trends without having to have a pile of old cell phones collecting dust in their homes. Target Wednesday announced that it has expanded its trade-in program to include Nintendo DS, in time for the upcoming release of the Nintendo 3DS. 

New York -- LexisNexis announced that it has a launched a suite of products designed to protect retailers from the risks associated card-not-present, or fraudulent credit card orders.

According to LexisNexis' 2010True Cost of Fraud Study, conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, retailers are consistently experiencing more than $100 billion in annual fraud losses.

Columbus, Ohio -- Tarrytown, N.Y.-based DLC Management Corp. said that Shoppers World has signed a lease at Northern Lights Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio. The 40,805-sq.-ft. apparel/variety merchandise retailer signed an eleven year lease and will join a dominant tenant lineup at this 361,000-sq.-ft. shopping center including Kroger, Marshall’s, Sears Outlet, and Citi Trends.

Shoppers World is expected to open in the summer.

New York City -- Almost 80% of respondents in a national survey of moms’ shopping habits said that the recession has permanently altered their shopping habits, inducing overall cuts in spending by purchasing items on sale and using coupons. The survey was conducted by the online shopping site Totsy.

Toronto -- Canadian discounter The Bargain Shops said Tuesday it has hired Beryl Jack Buley, former division president of Dollar General Corp., as its CEO.

The retailer said it is prepping for Target Corp.’s takeover of former Zellers stores across Canada in two years, which could shift some of Bargain Shop customers over to Target.

According to an Associated Press report, however, Buley said he is not worried about the impending competition from Target, saying that “enormous opportunity” remains in Canada.

STAMFORD, Conn. -- WWE and Vivendi Entertainment announced that Walmart will be the exclusive retailer for WWE Studios’ films. Vivendi Entertainment will continue to be WWE’s North American retail and rental distribution partner. 

Retailers’ growth plans in the United States are up 40% over last year’s levels, according to ChainLinks' Retail Advisors Spring 2011 National Retail Report. The report, which details trends impacting retail commercial real estate in more than 40 of the nation’s top markets, credits the surge in expansion to two key factors: the return of optimism within the retail sector; and the desire to expand quickly now -- before retail fundamentals improve enough for rents to start climbing again.