Store Systems

Chicago -- The new, post-recession American shopper is high maintenance, promiscuous and demands an innovative and engaging experience in-store and online. According to a new study released by Leo Burnett’s marketing services arm, Arc Worldwide.

New York City -- Microsoft on Thursday opened a store in Bellevue, Wash., close to its headquarters in Redmond.

It is the company’s seventh store to date, but more expected, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company expects a “pretty aggressive roll-out schedule” of new stores next year, the report said.

Hicksville, L.I. -- National Business Solutions (NBS) recently introduced its Product Protection System (PPS), a loss-prevention shelving solution that can be customized to fit any product application and planogram.

The new shelving unit helps thwart professional thieves and shoplifting groups by preventing the sweeping of product at store level, thereby eliminating the potential for a thief to dump an entire shelf of merchandise into a bag at once.

Bellevue, Wash. -- Touchscreen solution-provider Intava said Thursday that Ethan Allen has selected Intava Vector to power the retailer’s new touchscreens in participating Ethan Allen Design Centers nationwide.

The touch screens showcase Ethan Allen’s designs using interactive technology that combines photos, videos and details on all available furnishings and accessories. The technology gives consumers the ability to discover, select and visualize home interiors through intuitive interactions with the screen.

New York City -- Indoor billboard network StoreBoard Media said Thursday that it has secured its first retail installation in Canada via a new licensed partner based in Vancouver.

StoreBoard’s new licensee, operating as StoreBoard Media Canada, has signed an agreement with London Drugs to place ads on the retail chain’s security pedestals in the stores’ entrance ways, computer and audio video departments across Western Canada starting immediately.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. reported Thursday that net earnings for the third quarter increased 4.8% to $54.7 million, from $52.2 million in the prior year quarter.

Total sales increased 3.5% to $1.90 billion.

U.S. segment same-store sales were 5.3%, while total company same-store sales increased 1.1%.

Year-to-date, GameStop has opened 156 net new stores: 89 in the United States; 47 in Europe; eight in Canada; and 12 in Australia/New Zealand. The video game retailer currently operates 6,606 stores in 17 countries.

Natick, Mass. -- BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to raise its annual membership fees by $5, to $50, and invest the increased revenues in store remodels.

The fee increase, which will start in January, is the company’s first since 2006. BJ’s said it would generate about $20 million in new revenue, including an expectation that renewals would decrease 1% to 1.5% as a result of the hike.