Store Systems

Ask 728 people whether shopping on a smartphone or tablet is more attractive than visiting a retail location and more than half will say that it is, according to the 2013 Mobile Commerce Study produced by Hipcricket, a Kirkland, Wa.-based provider of unified mobile engagement platforms.

New York -- Charming Charlie has signed a lease for a 15,500-sq.-ft. store at 445 Fifth Avenue in the heart of midtown Manhattan. The fashion accessories retailer will open its first-ever Manhattan flagship store in early 2015.

Thor Equities owns and manages the building, which is located at the northeast corner of 39th street and Fifth Avenue, across from the New York Public Library. RKF and Strategic Retail Advisors represented Charming Charlie in the transaction. Thor Equities represented itself.

New York — RKF has arranged three long-term leases, totaling 13,055 sq. ft., in Manhattan for Carlo Pazolini, the European shoe and accessories brand. RKF represented Carlo Pazolini in each transaction.

The first store is in the Meatpacking District at 410 West 14th Street and spans 5,000 sq. ft., with 2,500 sq. ft. on the ground floor and another 2,500 sq. ft. in the basement. The location has opened for business. RKF represented the landlord Amcojor Realty Corp.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced a new price match policy that the company said ensures customers pay the lowest price – both in stores and online. Staples said it will price match items sold and shipped by Amazon.com or any retailer who sells products in both retail stores and online under the same brand.

On shelf availability at Walmart and the retailer’s newest technology tool will be the topic of discussion next week when Doing Business in Bentonville hosts an event on October 16 featuring a panel of speakers that includes Walmart’s director of supplier innovations Mike Graen.

The focus of the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. breakfast session will be Walmart’s SPARC program, an initiative born out of the desire to improve the on shelf availability of products by creating a Supplier Portal Allowing Retail Coverage (SPARC).

Roswell, Ga. – PGA Tour Superstores plans to improve operational efficiency and prepare for future growth using the SAP HANA business intelligence platform and the new SAP Customer Activity Repository application.

In an Oct. 8 session at the SAP Retail Forum 2013 in Dallas, Stephen McDonnold, CIO of PGA Tour Superstore, explained how his company and Cognizant Technology Solutions are working with SAP to create an IT environment supporting maximum operational efficiency.

L’Oréal is expanding its relationship with Demandware, a cloud commerce solutions provider, and will use the Demandware Commerce platform to power the digital transformation strategy of its brand portfolio around the globe. 

Seattle -- REI announced it will open a 22,000-sq.-ft. store at Keizer Station, Keizer, Ore., this coming spring.

“REI prides itself on expert employees and quality products that enhance anyone’s trip into the great outdoors,” said Kevin House, REI retail director for the Sierra-Cascade district. “The new store at Keizer Station will extend our services and product expertise to 13,300 eager and loyal members in Salem, who previously traveled more than 30 miles to shop at an REI store.”