Sales & Marketing

First, the good news: A strong retail sector is helping to drive 2016 U.S. construction activity, with retail construction projects up 24.4% year-over-year.

That’s according to JLL’s latest report on non-residential U.S. construction activity. On the less positive side, the report noted there is a cloud of economic uncertainty, which has companies laser-focused on lean budgeting and smart spending decisions.

Miracle Mile Shops, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, is targeting customers online in a big way.
 
The 1.2-mile shopping center has relaunched its site to offer a comprehensive snapshot of its offerings while encouraging visitors to engage on its social media channels. Now optimized for mobile technology, the site lets users search stores, promotions and offerings.
 

Henry Ford Health System, a six-hospital system headquartered here, and Kroger on Wednesday announced a new partnership designed to answer common dietary health questions and help consumers eat and shop healthier.

Henry Ford LiveWell Wednesdays debuts June 1 at all 126 Kroger stores throughout Michigan. Every Wednesday, Henry Ford will provide Kroger shoppers with a healthy recipe developed by registered dietitian nutritionists. Shoppers will receive a brochure including a list of all ingredients needed for the recipe and a link to a video cooking demonstration.

When it comes to providing online customer service, Land’s End is the one to beat.

StellaService, an independent company that measures the customer service performance of online businesses, recognized Lands' End with the 2016 StellaService Elite Award for exceptional customer service.

StellaService cited Lands' End for excelling in phone, chat and email, with a phone response time of less than 45 seconds.

A company named after the first reptile to develop the feather for flight is opening freestanding stores.
 
Arc’teryx Equipment, a Canadian manufacturer and retailer of high-performance outdoor apparel and equipment, will open a store in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood this July. It will follow that up with a store in Chicago’s Buckhead neighborhood in August, and one at Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall in October, giving it a total of 11 locations.

Cotton lovers in the Boston area have a two-day opportunity to shop an in-store collection before it becomes available online.
 
Rue La La has partnered with promotional group Cotton Inc. for a second year. To kick off the collaborations, the brands will launch a custom-developed pop-up shop. The co-branded #SummerofCotton pop-up shop will be located on Newbury Street in Boston for two days, June 4-5.
 

Despite all the attention being given to retail customization and personalization, most consumers see their shopping journeys as marred by inconsistency and impersonal service offerings.
 
Although  93% of retail executives say service personalization is a strategic focus, only one-quarter of consumers feel they receive a consistent, personal experience across channels, according to findings from personalization technology provider TimeTrade,
 

American Apparel is providing store managers with new insight into traffic and conversion so they can better perform staffing.

The specialty apparel chain is deploying StoreForce across all of its 202 stores in 19 countries. The solution allows managers to schedule store associates based on traffic patterns. It also delivers real-time performance metrics such as conversion rates. This allows managers to react to real-time opportunities to drive sales.