Mass Merchant

Chicago -- Store opening plans for 2013 are at a four-year high even as positive retail trends tempered with uncertain fiscal policies signal a cautious start to the new year, according to a report released Monday by Jones Lang LaSalle.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2013 National Retail Real Estate Outlook, retailers will open as many as 78,325 stores in the next two years – up 11% from year-end plans in 2011. Construction will add 52 million sq. ft. of space in 2013, more than double the 20 million sq. ft. completed in 2012.

Washington, D.C. --  Retailers will lose an estimated $8.9 billion to return fraud this year, and $2.9 billion during the holiday season alone, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Return Fraud Survey. Overall, retailers estimate 4.6% of holiday returns are fraudulent.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Former Belk executive Carl Scibetta has been named the new EVP and GMM at Shoe Carnival. Scibetta will report to Cliff Sifford, the former GMM, who was recently appointed president and CEO of the company.

The addition of 27 new stores wasn’t enough to prevent Big Lots from reporting a 1.9% sales decline during the quarter ended October 27.

Dallas -- The Howard Hughes Corp. and Dillard’s announced that the department store is the latest anchor to be part of The Shops at Summerlin, in West Las Vegas Valley. Dillard’s will build a two-level, 200,000-sq.-ft. foot in the center, with opening scheduled for fall 2014.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Employees at the Grand Rapids-based retailer Meijer raised $3 million for the 2012 United Way Workforce Campaign for the second year in a row. The workforce campaign aims to improve the lives of those in need by meeting critical needs of the community.

South Elgin, Ill. -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management Inc. announced that Shoe Carnival recently leased 10,072 sq. ft. at Shops at South Elgin in Chicago’s west suburbs.

The retailer plans to open in spring 2013 in the 164,502-sq.-ft. shopping center. Shoe Carnival is taking space formerly occupied by Famous Footwear and joins Kohl’s, T.J. Maxx, Pier 1 Imports, Petco and the newly expanded Fruitful Yield Health Foods.  

The Woodlands, Texas -- Conn's returned to a profit in its third quarter as the chain booked fewer charges and sales of furniture and mattresses improved. The company raised its fiscal 2013 forecast.

Conn’s, which also sells home appliances, consumer electronics and other items, posted a better-than-expected net income of $11.8 million for the three months ended Oct. 31, compared with a net loss of $12.7 million in the year-ago period. 

Revenue increased 11% to $206.4 million from $186.6 million. Same-store sales rose 12.6%.