eCommerce

New York -- Kohl’s, Target, and Walgreens were named “Brand of the Year” in their respective categories in the 2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend survey.

The annual study, conducted by Harris Interactive, reveals the brands that Americans rank highest in brand equity. Surveying more than 38,000 American consumers, it measures the level of quality, familiarity, and purchase consideration for each brand, and then awards "Brand of the Year" status to the top-ranked brand from each category.

Nashville, Tenn. -- GBT Realty Corp. said Wednesday it has closed on the purchase of approximately 20 acres along Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Ga., for the development of the Village on Pooler Parkway. The development will consist of more than 143,000 sq. ft. when completed in the first quarter of 2014.
 

Chicago -- Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction said Wednesday that its restaurant group has begun work on four new projects, including a food court in New Jersey’s largest outlet mall, a steakhouse in a downtown Chicago luxury hotel and two suburban Chicago mall restaurants.

“As we head out of the recession, we’re seeing more importance placed on dining and entertainment, and the focus is on redevelopment,” said William Di Santo, president, Englewood Construction.

New York -- Kleinfeld Bridal, the iconic New York bridal retailer and star of the hit reality show “Say Yes to the Dress,” will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. salon in Hudson’s Bay’s flagship location in downtown Toronto in early 2014. The Hudson’s Bay Company has exclusive rights to the brand in Canada.

By Tim Callan, [email protected]

New York -- Walmart plans to test the use of in-store lockers to hold goods ordered on its website until shoppers can pick them up, Reuters reported.

Neil Ashe, president and CEO of the discounter’s global e-commerce division, discussed the test, which will get underway this summer in about 12 locations, On Tuesday at the chain’s e-commerce media day. The event was held at its global e-commerce offices in San Bruno, Calif. Ashe also said that Wal-Mart is set to surpass $9 billion in annual online sales this year.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Mid-America Asset Management said it has signed three furniture/home décor stores to retail locations in Chicago’s suburbs of Oak Brook and McHenry as well as downstate in Bloomington, Ill.

Ashley Furniture signed a lease for 31,573 sq. ft. at Colonial Plaza in Bloomington, Ill., with plans to open in spring 2013. Ashley Furniture will co-anchor the 236,460-sq.-ft. center along with Kmart and OfficeMax.

Minneapolis -- Shortly after abandoning buyout possibilities of his former company, Best Buy co-founder and former chairman Richard Schulze announced Monday that he is returning to the retailer as chairman emeritus.

Schulze, who is Best Buy’s largest shareholder, is nominating two former Best Buy executives to join him on the board: former CEO Brad Anderson and former COO Al Lenzmeier.