Sales & Marketing

Saks Fifth Avenue revealed additional details about its entry into the Canadian market.

The company will open its first-ever store up north, at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, on February 18, 2016, followed by a second location, at CF Sherway Gardens, on February 25. Both centers are in Toronto.

Retailers looking for evidence that technology has become a pre-eminent influencer on their industry need look no further.

A market brief from consumer financial services company Synchrony Financial, “10 Things to Know – the Top 10 Retail Trends for 2016,” identifies eight technology-driven developments on its list. In addition to the emergence of new retail holidays and increased spending on pets, the eight IT-focused trends are:

Move over Big Lots and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Kmart is ready to begin making opportunistic purchases of closeouts and liquidated good in keeping with its strategic vision to make shopping fun again.

Kmart said its strategic merchandising group is actively sourcing extreme-value deals by purchasing the inventory of liquidated companies and capitalizing on other opportunistic situations to obtain outstanding products and offer unbeatable value.

The nation’s gambling capital is getting another high-end retail center, this one with Paris accents.

Wynn Las Vegas announced the development of Wynn Plaza, a 75,518-sq.-ft. luxury retail center. Debuting fall 2017, the complex will support the existing luxury retail collection at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, as well as bring the shopping experience to the high traffic area bordering Las Vegas Boulevard.

Honolulu -- The Howard Hughes Corp. marked another critical milestone for Ward Village located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company broke ground on Ae‘o, a 466 unit mixed-use residential tower that will be anchored by a flagship Whole Foods Market.

The results are in, and there is no question about what is happening with mobile retail.

According to a new study of 1.4 billion online transactions during fourth quarter 2015 from performance marketing technology provider Criteo, mobile transaction share grew 15% from the same quarter the prior year. Mobile transactions accounted for 30% of all online transactions in the quarter.

A Nordic lifestyle store has made its London debut.

Inspired by the hybrid café and retail concepts commonly found in Scandinavia, Blåbär features homeware and accessories from up and coming designers, vintage furniture and its own branded products all in a café environment serving Swedish foods and drinks.

It has been roughly four months since the Oct. 1, 2015 liability mandate for U.S. retailers to adopt EMV – how much progress has been made?