Retail

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has formed the Small Business Retail Council to organize, recruit and engage Main Street merchants and independent community retailers in grassroots advocacy activities. The Council will represent and be responsive to the needs, concerns and interests of local shops, and provide the association’s small business members a forum to discuss the most pressing public policy issues and priorities.

Chicago - Regency Centers Corporation is starting construction on a new 40,000-sq.-ft.Whole Foods Market. The new store, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago in Schererville, Ind., is projected to open in the fall of 2015, joining existing tenants Homegoods, Gordmans, Ross Dress for Less, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and many others.

Westborough, Mass. – BJ’s Wholesale Club has signed a new long-term agreement for Alliance Data Systems Corp. to provide co-brand credit card services. The BJ's credit program will convert to MasterCard.

New York - Households with school-aged children (pre-school through 12th grade) plan to spend more this year on back-to-school necessities with a predicted increase of 9 % for an average spend of $655, according to the 15th annual survey conducted by Brand Keys.

Average anticipated spending in all major back-to-school categories reflect higher levels from 2013:

Clothing: $348 (+16%)
Shoes (athletic & dress) $127 (+15%)
Supplies $ 89 (+13%)
Computers/Electronics/
Tablets/Smartphones: $213 (+12%)

Mooresville, N.C. – Lowe’s has launched ProExpress, an on-demand delivery service for professional customers. Since April 2014, light-duty trucks have made thousands of deliveries directly to business sites to meet a wide range of needs.

Through the program, Lowe's has helped pros by fulfilling emergency orders such as smoke detectors to pass an inspection, or shingles to complete a job before a damaging storm. The ProExpress trucks also regularly visit businesses to restock shelves with cleaning and maintenance supplies. 

Yonkers, N.Y. - Westchester’s Ridge Hill shopping center will host a special “pop-up” event with MakerBot showcasing its 3-D printing technology on July 24, from 6-9 p.m.  There will be live demonstrations, jewelry design classes and equipment available for sale at the event.

Lowe's continues to invest in capabilities to better serve professional customers, and has launched ProExpress, an on-demand delivery service to that end.

Since April 2014, these light-duty trucks have made thousands of deliveries directly to business sites to meet a wide range of needs. Through the program, Lowe's has helped pros by fulfilling emergency orders such as smoke detectors to pass an inspection, or shingles to complete a job before a storm. The ProExpress trucks also regularly visit businesses to restock shelves with cleaning and maintenance supplies.

Niwot, Colo. -- Claire Fahie-Conley, VP of U.S. retail for Reebok, has been appointed Crocs' VP of retail for North America. In this role, Fahie-Conley will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the retail footprint in North America, including the entire fleet of full-price and outlet stores.