Supply Chain & Merchandising

I’ve written before about the ongoing trend of some of the biggest names in retail downsizing. Now I’m seeing how brands like Target, Wal-Mart and Office Depot are rolling out smaller new store formats in urban environments, and it has me thinking about how this downsizing phenomenon might be even more important than many people realize.

New York – A report by Women’s Wear Daily said that shapewear brand Spanx will launch a retail presence, with four store openings in the coming months.

Expanding its online and department-store presence, Spanx will open three standalone branded stores in October, according to WWD, located in Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va.; Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J.; and King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia.  A fourth store is slated to open at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released on Wednesday, decreased slightly in July, marking the first decline since February 2012. 

The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

Michaels Stores is taking its energy conservation efforts to the next level. The arts and crafts retailer has rolled out several advanced extensions to its energy management system. The extensions are expected to bring Michaels’ total EMS-related savings to more than 30%.

Don’t let the grocery sector shake-ups fool you.

While there are individual failures, the category as a whole continues to find favor among developers that place a premium on having a traffic magnet in their shopping centers.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — If Staples is a proxy for the health of the U.S. economy don’t look for conditions to improve any time soon.

Toronto -- Sears Canada reported Wednesday a loss of $9.8 million in the second quarter, widened from a loss of $200,000 in the year-ago period.

Revenue fell 8.5% to $1.050 billion, from $1.148 billion. Same-store sales dropped 7.1%.

The retailer attributed much of the problem to warm, dry weather in many areas of Canada, which impacted sales of outdoor power equipment.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target’s second-quarter sales increased 3.5% to $16.5 billion and the company’s profits grew 2.9% to $1.06 per share, five cents better than analysts expected.