Sales & Marketing

GNC Holdings Inc. is looking to 2015 as a year of expansion. The retailer plans to open 125 total net new domestic and retail segment locations, and has plans for more.

The retailer also will open approximately 150 net new international franchise locations, and approximately 30 net new GNC-Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations.

GNC announced its store growth plans as part of its fourth quarter 2014 financial results. During the quarter, net income rose 9% to $51.77 million from $47.66 million. A decrease in interest expense drove the rise in profits.

Philadelphia -- X Team International announced that partner MSC Retail has completed a lease transaction with Rascals Fitness in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Rascals Fitness will open a 12,183-sq.-ft. facility in Collegeville Plaza at the intersection of Main Street and 2nd Avenue. “We’re excited to have helped complete the lease for Rascals Fitness on their third location in Pennsylvania,” said Michael Salove, president and CEO of MSC Retail.

Hhgregg is taking a different approach to President’s Day promotions this year by focusing on the ladies –- the First Ladies, that is.

Los Angeles -- Stitch, a new concept in clothing alterations and design services, has opened a flagship in West Hollywood, California, with plans to expand across the nation.  

The store combines a comfortable atmosphere, quality tailoring, a fast turnaround and real-time text/email updates on garment progress. It also features a lounge decorated with for-sale paintings by local artists, and a rotating pop-up boutique with clothing for sale.

New York -- Twitter plans to acquire Niche, a startup that pairs content creators popular on such social media platforms as Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter's own Vine with brand advertisers.

Niche, founded in 2013, provides social media creators – its stable includes more than 6,000 – with free, cross-platform analytics on desktop and mobile, and serves as a non-exclusive talent rep to facilitate branded content deals with its network of companies and agencies.

Memphis, Tenn. - Fred's Super Dollar is enhancing its POS marketing efforts. The retailer has joined inStream's retailer network of 38,000-plus stores offering POS and digital marketing programs.  

The Fred's/inStream partnership will reach more than 2.2 million shoppers across 600 stores each week with targeted offers, on the "front" of their consumer receipts which will feature eye-catching graphics.

Here are five retail trends to expect in 2015 — and the opportunity each trend presents — from the folks at T1Visions, a provider of interactive touch-screen technology.

1. Stores as Experiences = opportunity to create new ways to interact with product; focus on experience over the sale; customize the experience whenever and wherever possible.

Seattle - A significant increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, as well as higher marketing expenses, helped plunge net income at pure play retailer Zulily Inc. below Wall Street expectations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income fell 15% to $10.88 million from $12.75 million.