Store Systems

Nintendo World in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City is getting a big upgrade.

The two-level store, which opened in 2005, will temporarily close on Jan. 10, and then reopen on Feb. 19, with a new look and a new feel. The overhaul will include an updated interior design, new demo units for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, a 15-ft. gaming screen and more fun elements.

In addition, a large bronze coin installed at the store entrance will display the store’s tagline: “Where everyone comes to play.”

Gaithersburg, Md. -- Elion Partners announced it has completed capital improvements for Goshen Plaza in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The 45,654 sq. ft., CVS-anchored shopping center has undergone upgrades to its exterior, landscaping and parking lots.

“Our goal is to increase visibility and enhance the customer’s experience while at Goshen Plaza,” said Juan DeAngulo, managing principal, Elion Partners. “The capital improvement project ensures Goshen Plaza will remain a top community destination for years to come.

Chain Store Age spoke to industry experts to get a sense of where four strong trends in retail technology — mobile payment, same-day delivery, Internet of Things and social commerce — are heading in 2016. We also offer a sneak peek at the burgeoning trend of visual search.

RANDOM NOTES: The North Face puts its passion for adventure and the great outdoors front and center in its new flagship in London. Designed to inspire customers to explore the world, the 4,300-sq.-ft. store features skylights, live greenery, tree trunks that extend through the ceiling windows, and such tech enhancements as a virtual reality experience that takes viewers on a journey through Nepal. Digital screens (“sky windows”) set in the ceiling have imagery that reflects outside weather conditions.

Starwood Retail Partners debuted Oh, So Simple, a first-of-its-kind rewards program that offers consumers a revolutionary way to earn credit for their purchases at stores across an entire mall. The program piloted at four properties in 2015 and will roll out to all 29 Starwood centers this year. The one-step process links an existing Visa, MasterCard, or personal American Express credit or debit card to an Oh, So Simple Rewards account. Members can connect as many of their cards to the account as they wish.

Everyone knows mobile will have a huge influence on commerce and customer engagement this year.

But what specific mobile trends will have the most impact in 2016. Enterprise mobile and Big Data solutions and services vendor Digital Management Inc. (DMI) has released a list of the top 10 mobile trends for the coming year. They are:

Female executives take leading roles in retail IT arena

If a “leader” is someone who knows how to take charge, achieve goals and inspire others along the way — even in the most trying of circumstances — then the women featured in this special section are leaders in every sense of the word. They have toiled and proved their mettle — and smarts — in a field that traditionally has not been all that female-friendly: technology.

There is an increasing difficulty in maintaining a skilled technical workforce. As the current workforce ages, technical experts are harder to find and concerns arise around workforce costs.