Supply Chain & Merchandising

New York City -- Amazon is testing robotic delivery lockers that people can use to receive items they order from the website, according to published reports.

Wired magazine reported online that the company was conducting the tests in Seattle and New York at Rite Aid and 7-Eleven stores, as well as other locations. The new service would allow people to select a locker location for delivery and then go to retrieve their items automatically using a six-digit code.

COMMERCE, Calif. — The investment group that agreed to buy 99 Cents Only Stores for $1.6 billion must be pleased with the discounter's second-quarter results.

99 Cents Only Stores reported total sales of $363 million for the second quarter, an increase of 8.8% over total sales of $333.6 million for the same quarter last year. Same-store sales for the quarter were up 6.7%. The number of same-store-sales transactions increased 4.7% and the average transaction size increased to $9.62 from $9.44, the company reported.

Let’s say you are a major global retailer, perhaps the largest in the world, and interested in expanding into markets beyond the 28 where you currently have a presence. Is the better strategy to publicly identify new markets of interest and a timetable for entry, thereby elevating asset prices, or to shun deal-making to pursue ample organic growth opportunities in existing markets all the while reserving the right to strike opportunistically when market conditions are most favorable?

New York City -- Target Corp. secured a new $2.25 billion unsecured credit facility, the retailer disclosed Friday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Target could borrow up to as much as $500 million under the credit agreement. The agreement with Bank of American and Citibank will expire in October of 2016 unless it is extended.

The current facility replaces a prior $2 billion credit agreement.
 

Albany, Ore. -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle said Tuesday it has been named as the property and leasing manager for Heritage Mall, a 407,354-sq.-ft. regional shopping center located in Albany, Ore.

Portland, Ore. -- Ikea officially plugged-in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The initiative is the first such project for Ikea in the United States. Similar installations aa planned at eight other Ikea stores in the Western United States.

NEW YORK — Gap executives reaffirmed its commitment to reducing square footage at home, aggressive international expansion and online growth during a presentation at Gap Global Creative Center in New York City. Gap also revealed that its online-only Piperlime division will explore a store concept next year and is testing men’s apparel.

College Station, Texas -- Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner, said that it has completed a lease for the relocation of OfficeMax in College Station, Texas.