Mass Merchant

Skechers has debuted a new store format in its largest mall location to date.    The company has opened a 24,000-sq.-ft. outlet store at Ontario Mills, Ontario, California, that houses one of the widest assortments of Skechers products under one roof, with dedicated departments for the brand's various lifestyle and performance collections for men and women. The new Skechers Superstore also features a fun kids’ area, complete with a candy shop and a theater space screening Skechers cartoons.  

Amazon is giving new meaning to the phrase "Christmas in July."  

German discount grocer is expanding its presence and investment in the U.S. — on two fronts.    On the heels of its first 10 stores opening in the U.S., Lidl is expanding with more locations. On July 13, the company will open two stores in Virginia (in Chesapeake and Culpeper) and two in North Carolina (Havelock and Wake Forest).  

Noting that necessity-based have proven to resistant to the pressures of online retailers, Westwood Co-CEO Randy Banchik announced his company’s acquisition of The Arbors at Mallard Creek in Charlotte. Purchase price was $25.1 million.    “This asset boasts a variety of internet resistant tenants, insulating it from factors such as the rise of online shopping,” Blanchik said.  

Walmart leads the pack when it comes to paid search advertising in the grocery category.   That’s according to new research from AdGooroo. The search marketing intelligence provider analyzed 124 non-branded grocery store and grocery delivery keywords from June 2016-May 2017.  

The Finish Line met earnings estimates for its first quarter amid sales that were less than expected.    The retailer reported net income of $8.1 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.23, in  line with analysts' expectations.    Consolidated net sales inched down 0.1% to $429.8 million in the quarter ended May 27. Same-store sales decreased 1.1%. Same-store sales at Finish Line in-store shops at Macy’s 13.6%.  

The chief executive of a regional supermarket chain ranks among the nation's highest-rated CEOs.   Charles C. Butt, CEO of H-E-B, based in Austin, Texas, was the only retail chief executive to crack the top 20 of Glassdoor's annual Employee Choice Awards, which honor the 100 highest rated CEOs of large companies across the United States. Butt ranked #16. (The number one position was held by Benno Dorer, CEO of Clorox.)   

Staples is close to returning to private ownership.   Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is in advanced talks to acquire Staples, according to numerous media reports. The deal could top $6 billion, reported Reuters, which said Sycamore is in the process of finalizing a debt financing deal with Staples. Sycamore repeatedly beat out Cerberus Capital Management in an auction.