Technology

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. will expand its Issaquah, Wash., headquarters, according to published reports on Friday.

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reported Friday that Issaquah's director of economic development, Keith Niven, said the club retailer would expand the headquarters to take up as much as 1.5 million sq. ft.

The Tacoma, Wash., News Tribune reported that the company currently takes up three buildings that are full.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hibbett Sports reported that net sales for the fourth quarter increased 14% to $217.4 million compared with $190.7 million for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales increased 4.9% on a 13-week to 13-week period.

Net income for the quarter increased 22.3% to $19.4 million compared with $15.8 million for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share increased 23.7% to 73 cents for the quarter compared with 59 cents for the same period last year. 

SARASOTA, Fla. — Saks Fifth Avenue has revealed more details about its new two-level, 80,000 sq. ft. store in The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, Fla., which is presently under construction at the intersection of I-75 and University Parkway. The Mall at University Town Center is being co-developed by Taubman Centers and Benderson Development and is scheduled to open Oct. 16, 2014.

High-traction flooring materials are key in reducing risk

Slip-and-fall accidents in public places, including retail stores, are the leading cause of premise liability injuries and rank among facilities managers' top management issues. And with the elderly particularly vulnerable to falls, the size and scope of the problem is likely to grow in the near future given the aging of the baby boomers.

Don Kingsborough, VP retail services, PayPal, San Jose, Calif.

Lynwood, Wash. -- Zumiez Inc. said Thursday its fiscal fourth quarter net income rose 22.1% to $22.9 million on improved sales.

Revenue for the quarter, ended Feb.2, (14 weeks) increased to $224.4 million from $183.9 million in the year-ago period (13 weeks). Same-store sales fell 1%.

Zumiez said it plans to open about 60 new stores in the current fiscal year, including up to 10 stores in Canada and six stores in Europe.

In open-air, context often trumps content

Expect no prophesying about the death of enclosed malls. The format is alive and well, and there are countless examples of thriving under-roof shopping centers around the country.

Still, there is no question that the open-air format has stolen mall thunder.

CHM has broken ground on University Commons, billed as the first urban, vertical retail complex in Knoxville, Tenn.

The multi-story urban shopping and dining development, located on the former Fulton Bellows site adjacent to the University of Tennessee, will cover 12+ acres, with 211,000 sq. ft. of retail space and parking.  Anchored by Walmart and Publix, University Commons will add another 40,000 sq. ft. of smaller shop space once the project is completed.