Store Systems

Personalization continues to be the trend that just won’t go away, probably because it’s the new normal in how consumers want to interact with brands and retailers. Personalized videos hold the promise to surprise and delight (and covert), especially as we collectively spend more and more of our time viewing videos online. And personalized promotions help retailers maximize scarce marketing dollars, ensuring the right customer gets the right call to action at the right time.

Marla and Barry Beck, Founders of Bluemercury, open 100th store (Photo: Business Wire)   Bluemercury is testing a larger format space.    The specialty beauty products and spa retailer announced the opening of its 100th store, in Savannah, Georgia.     

A brand known for its low, low prices and high volume has opened its fifth U.S. store.   Primark has opened at PREIT’s Willow Grove Park Mall in the Philadelphia suburb of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. This is the second Primark location in the Philadelphia region. The store occupies 58,300 sq. ft. of space previously occupied by Sears on the second and third floors of the southwest side of the mall.  It features 59 fitting rooms and 47 registers, recharge areas, as well as a fashion "trend room.”  

Starbucks Corp.’s “express” store format made its international debut, in London.   Designed for people on-the-go, the store has a welcoming environment with the barista and customer at its heart. Design features include textures of complementary natural wood and marble. It offers a streamlined menu with items displayed on digital menu boards that rotate throughout the day. The open layout allows for an early order point, which allows customers to order, pay and pick-up even faster.  

A familiar chain has been named the most powerful retail brand of 2016.   According to the 2016 Top 100 Most Powerful Brands report from brand marketing firm Tenet Partners, Barnes & Nobile is the most powerful retail brand, and 32nd most powerful brand overall, of the year. This is the second straight year Barnes & Noble ranked highest among retailers.  

Even geeks appreciate the convenience and hands-on experience of visiting a physical store.   Recognizing the continuing popularity of brick-and-mortar, specialty video game retailer GameStop Corp. has been extending its pure-play ThinkGeek banner into physical stores. GameStop purchased ThinkGeek parent company GeekNet Inc. in 2015. ThinkGeek specializes in selling “loot,” or collectible items and memorabilia, rather than video games.  

It won’t help you find Pikachu, but a new mobile tool from Macy’s will assist shoppers in navigating the store.   The department store retailer is piloting “Macy’s On Call,” a solution that lets in-store customers use their mobile phones to interact with an artificial intelligence (AI) platform powered by IBM Watson. The Satisfi intelligent engagement platform provides the connection between the mobile tool and the Watson platform.  

Target Corp. is expanding its portfolio of smaller stores.

The chain expects to roll out 14 more of its smaller stores this year, including a 21,000-sq.-ft. location in the Queens borough of New York City, which is opening this week, according the New York Post.