Store Systems

Credit card fraud is in the United States is at epidemic levels. Last year, the U.S. accounted for more fraud than the rest of the world combined. And the fraud rates are accelerating. EMV technology, which has shown to greatly reduce in-store fraud in the Europe, is finally being rolled out in the United States with an impending deadline in October 2015 when retailers will be liable for in-store fraud for cards that have chips on them.

REI has grown to 140 stores in 33 states with a sizable e-commerce operation. Imagine what the company will be able to do now that it has finally named a chief information officer and gotten aggressive about recruiting technology talent.

The national outdoor specialty retailer elevated Julie Averill to the role of CIO after the 25 year technology veteran joined the company last year as senior vice president of information technology. She joined REI from Nordstrom where she served as the department store retailer’s vice president of technology.

Photo: At Broadway and 68th, a 30,000-sq.-ft. store takes shape.

New York -- Lowe’s is giving an overhaul to its store format strategy when it makes its Manhattan debut on Aug. 17.

The North Carolina-based retailer is set to open two stores in the Big Apple, with the first opening on the Upper West Side on Monday, and the second, in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood, in September.

New York -- Macy’s has joined the increasing number of retailers tapping into their real estate assets.

Macy’s on Wednesday announced a real estate purchase agreement with developer Tishman Speyer to sell several of the nine floors of the Macy’s store on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York. The real estate transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, and Macy’s is expected to record a gain of approximately $250 million in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2015.

Seattle -- REI has named its first-ever CIO. The outdoor specialty retailer company is also on the hunt for talented techies to join its ranks.

REI promoted Julie Averill to CIO, where she will continue to lead REI’s technology organization. A 25-year technology veteran, Averill joined REI in 2014 and most recently served as VP of information technology.

Rite Aid is finally moving to embrace a mobile-first strategy by making a major announcement about paymants.

New York -- Starbucks is going big on the Las Vegas Strip.

The coffee giant is building a store that, in a first for Starbucks, will feature stadium-styled "grandstand" seating from which customers can, in another first, view a huge projector screen, reported Las Vegas Review-Journal. For a video of the store click here.

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid is making it easier for customers to make purchases.