Sales & Marketing

Quik Mart Stores has made the move to LED lighting.      The Tucson, Arizona-based convenience store/gas station chain replaced the existing fluorescent and HID interior and exterior lighting with solid state LED lighting at 25 locations in the Tucson market.     The retrofit was completed by SCS Energy Solutions Corp.’s SCS Lighting Division, which also developed a solution for beverage and freezer cooler lighting, as well as enhancing existing merchandise displays.  

Tanger Outlets is putting its pedal to the metal marketing-wise, signing on as lead sponsor of Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 NASCAR racer and his Furniture Row Racing Team.   The striking red-and-black Tanger Toyota will debut at the Federated Auto Parts 400 on September 10 at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia before motoring on through the 10-race Chase  playoff series.  

Convenience stores stand to benefit the most from a greying population. That’s according to new report from Fung Global Retail & Technology which looks at the impact of the growing 65-and-over population on global economies, industries and retail.   

Nordstrom shoppers will now be able to purchase J.Crew apparel, as well as its sister brand Madewell.   Continuing to expand its partnerships with select brands, the department store retailer has entered into a new deal with J. Crew Group to sell an edited assortment of J.Crew apparel at select full-line Nordstrom and on its website beginning Sept. 12.       The assortment, to be featured in 16 Nordstrom locations, will include women's apparel, accessories and petites (online only).

Sephora has debuted its high-tech, high-service Beauty Tip Workshop format on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.    The 10,040-sq.-ft. store offers an array of classes, group as well as one-on-one makeovers and boasts a number of innovations, including a new digital makeover guide.   Click here for more. 

Michaels Cos. said increased spending cut into its bottom line in the second quarter. The chain lowered its same-stores outlook for the rest of the year, citing a “choppy” retail environment.    For the quarter ended July 30, the company posted a profit of $35.6 million, compared with $35.7 million in the year-ago period, amid spending to integrate recently-acquired arts and craft wholesaler Lamrite West and the timing of distribution expenses.  

Online retail sales continue to grow as changing shopper behavior places greater expectations on brick-and-mortar retail. Despite this trend, store-based retailing remains more profitable than direct-to-consumer retailing, largely due to the high cost of free shipping and returns associated with online sales.   

Sephora has brought its tech-savvy Beauty TIP Workshop store format to Michigan Avenue in Chicago, complete with some new flourishes.    At 10,040 sq. ft., the new store is the beauty giant’s 400th freestanding location in North America, and only the fourth here to feature the TIP (teach, inspire, play) format. The other locations are Powell St., San Francisco; Prudential Center, Boston; and Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto.