Store Systems

Minneapolis -- Best Buy on Wednesday announced major changes to its leadership organization. The company is removing the senior-most layer of the U.S. operation is being removed; resulting in what it called “a leaner structure intended to improve the company’s agility.”

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- As part of a larger initiative to upgrade the customer experience and localize offerings in its 640 stores nationwide. The Finish Line will roll out new Oracle Retail merchandising, planning, stores and CRM solutions. The athletic-goods retailer is leveraging Oracle’s cloud computing services in the process.

The Finish Line will use the integrated retail systems to tailor offerings to customer and regional preferences.  

Melrose, Mass. -- Charter Realty and Development Corp. said it has acquired the 52,000-sq.-ft. Towers Plaza for $8.6 million.

The neighborhood shopping center, located in Melrose, Mass., a suburb of Boston, was originally built in 1965 and later renovated and expanded. It is anchored by Johnnie’s Foodmaster Supermarket and Rite Aid.  

Charter said it anticipates doing a façade renovation as well as upgrades to the common area. The work will commence this fall and continue in the spring.

By Jeff Weidauer, [email protected]

Talk to anyone who has been in the retail business for a while, and they will tell you that the world has changed, and continues to do so. Technology is changing daily how shoppers think about the trip, how retailers track sales and shopper behavior, and the way CPG manufacturers approach category management. Metrics abound, and the seemingly simple business of retail now depends on complex algorithms and data analysis to grow and profit.

Kokomo, Ind. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group said that Kirkland’s will open a 6,400-sq.-ft. store at Boulevard Crossing, located in Kokomo, Ind.

The 213,663-sq.-ft. shopping center is owned by Kite Kokomo Project Co. and is anchored by Kohl’s, Party City, Ulta, TJ Maxx, Petco, Shoe Carnival and Dress Barn.

New York -- Kate Spade New York said Tuesday it is unveiling a new apparel and accessories brand, Kate Spade Saturday, which will officially launch in Japan in February 2013 through e-commerce at Saturday.jp and a flagship store in Tokyo.

The company said the brand, which is based on the spirit of Saturday seven days a week, is expected to launch exclusively online at www.saturday.com in the U.S. in spring 2013. A selection of product from the spring 2013 launch collection will be sold on fab.com prior to the U.S. launch.

Sarasota, Fla. – Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman Centers and Sarasota, Fla.-based Benderson Development Co. announced the ground breaking on a $315-million, 880,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in Sarasota, Fla.

The Mall at University Town Center will be a two-level enclosed mall anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s and Macy’s, and featuring more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants.

The Mall at University Town Center is scheduled to open in Oct. 2014.

Burlington, Mass. -- E-commerce solution-provider Demandware said Monday that Pacific Sunwear of California has launched Demandware’s Multichannel Commerce Solution, powered by the Demandware Commerce platform, across its web, mobile and tablet channels as well as its brick-and-mortar stores.

Pacific Sunwear replaced its legacy platform with the new cloud-based platform.