Omnichannel

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Meijer has added features to its mPerks program that allows customers to store digital receipts from purchases in a single place and details exactly how much they've saved by shopping at the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. The new features are available for subscribers who enable the digital receipts option on their accounts and enter their mPerks ID each time at checkout.  

New York -- Express Inc. is opening its largest location in Times Square, N.Y. on March 25. The Times Square store is located in the landmark I. Miller building distinguished by its marbled frame and statues of iconic actresses including Marilyn Miller and Mary Pickford.

With more than 28,000 sq. ft., the location features imagery boxes, LED walls and screens, interactive iPads, mobile points-of-sale, and on-site charging stations to enhance the shopping experience.

Personalized weather provider Poncho has developed an innovative way to monetize its content through a shopper marketing initiative with the Duane Reade division of Walgreens.

In a pilot program with Duane Reade, users of the Poncho service who sign up to receive weather updates tailored to their preferences via text or email will also receive promotional incentives from Duane Reade. The program is targeted to New York metropolitan area consumers where Duane Reade’s more than 250 stores are concentrated.

New York – For many retailers, it may be time to consider investing in a new POS system. According to a new report from touch-screen POS terminal and peripheral vendor Posiflex Technologies Inc., fingerprint biometric technology provider Digital Persona Inc., and Chain Store Age, “How Do You Know If It’s Time to Upgrade Your POS System?,” rapid advances in omni-channel technology in the past several years have radically changed the nature of POS.

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Incorporated plans to open a store in Noblesville, Ind., serving the greater Indianapolis area. Construction is scheduled to begin later in 2014 and the store is expected to open in fall 2015.

The 80,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in the new Saxony Campus development adjacent to Hamilton Town Center. It will be Cabela’s second Indiana store, joining the Hammond location opened in 2007, and is expected to employ approximately 170 full-time and part-time employees.

New York -- Destination XL Group, Inc. will open its first Manhattan store in June 2014. Located in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, the new DXL stores represent the company’s superstore format.

As part of the company’s new redesign, the store will feature wider aisles and larger fitting rooms, as well as sofas, chairs and flat-screen televisions.

Guess? may be a global brand, but worldwide diversification wasn’t enough to help the company avoid a fourth quarter sales decline and weakness at North American retail locations.

Unlike other retailers, Guess? made no mention of horrible winter weather when it reported a decline in fourth quarter sales and profits that were especially evident in North America.

Shelton, Conn. – Executive consumers seek easier ordering when they shop online. According to a survey of 50 high-level executives who attended the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence Conference March 4-7 by EDI and e-commerce integrator Logicbroker, nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents said that ease of ordering is the most important part of the online ordering process.

One-third (33%) said that better communication is the area that e-commerce companies have the most potential to improve.