Data & Analytics

When your retail operation is already the size of a small city and you’re planning growth, maintaining communications is a critical task.

Bloomington, Minnesota-based Mall of America, which spans four levels and 5.5 million-sq.-ft. of retail space (plus parking ramps, service corridors, etc.) and is seeking to expand, faces that exact situation. The mall, home to 520 stores, more than 50 restaurants, an indoor theme park and other attractions, is switching from an analog communications system to the Motorola Solutions Mototrbo digital two-way radio system.

Westside Market, a local New York City grocery retailer, is partnering with Instacart for delivery to the Upper West Side neighborhood.

Instacart customers on the Upper West Side will now have access to an assortment of Westside Market items, all delivered in as soon as one hour. Instacart will deliver from a select Westside Market location to start (110th Street and Broadway), and Instacart prices are the same as Westside Market's in-store prices. Westside Market has five stores in all.

A 3,500-sq.-ft. rotunda “smart” skylight has been installed in the new grand entrance and event space at the nation’s largest shopping mall. The new space is part of Mall of America’s 750,000-sq.-ft. expansion.

The skylight is comprised of more than 300 panes of electronically tintable SageGlass, which controls sunlight to optimize daylight and enhance comfort by preventing glare and solar heat.

Outdoor enthusiasts can now purchase outdoor goods from the indoor comfort of their homes.

The specialty outdoor Field & Stream chain, a 19-store banner of Dick’s Sporting Goods, has launched its first-ever e-commerce website.

JCPenney says the company's third quarter results will "exceed expectations" despite a $50 million settlement charge to settle a false advertising class action lawsuit. 

The company announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement to settle a false advertising class action lawsuit brought on behalf of California customers who purchased certain JCPenney private or exclusive branded products.

Of all the celebrants of China’s annual “Singles Day” Nov. 11 holiday, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. was probably the happiest.

By midnight Nov. 11 China time (which is ahead of all U.S. time zones), Alibaba estimated it had settled about $14.34 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV) through its Alipay payment platform on its China and international retail marketplaces.

Retailers are feeling confident about their overall financial situations, but less so about omnichannel investment.

This is a main finding from the 7th annual CIT Group Retail Outlook study conducted among 250 senior middle-market retail executives by Harris Poll. Although respondents are generally projecting growing sales and revenue, many feel significant investment toward innovation in an omnichannel strategy -- including website, mobile and social media channels -- will be needed to remain competitive.

The Amazon Echo smart home device represents a potential threat to Amazon’s competitors, but sales are sales.

Amazon Echo will be available in more than 3,000 stores around the country in time for the holiday shopping season. Select locations of ABT, BJ’s Wholesale Club, The Home Depot, Staples, Sears, Brookstone, RadioShack, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Hhgregg, P.C. Richard & Son, and R.C. Wiley will offer Echo.