Store Systems

New York -- J.Crew Group is not breaking any new ground with its latest retail format, Mercantile, which recently opened its first location, in Dallas.

The budget-friendly store, in The Shops at Park Lane, is very similar to J.Crew’s factory outlet concept, reports Business Insider, particularly in its pricing and merchandise mix.

For a look inside the new store, click here.
 

Milford, Conn. -- It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of all the activity in the mobile ordering and mobile payment space. The latest big announcement comes from Subway.

The fast-casual restaurant giant announced on Thursday new updates to its mobile app and website that include more mobile payment options, along with giving customers the ability to order on-the-go. Subway said it is adding PayPal as an option customers can use to pay for meals when they order remotely or pay in-store using the Subway app’s mobile payment feature.

Boston -- A veteran retailer with experience in running big national chains has joined City Sports as its new chief executive.

The Boston-based company tapped Marty Hanaka, who has served on the board of directors of City Sports since 2008, as its new chief executive. Hanaka was the interim CEO of Guitar Center from January 2013 to April 2013. Previously, he served as CEO of Golfsmith Holdings (from June 2008 to November 2012) and of The Sports Authority (from September 1998 to August 2003.) Prior to that, he was the president and COO of Staples.

Milpitas, Calif. – Some interested students are getting a hands-on education courtesy of Kohl’s.

Kohl’s Digital Center, in Milpitas, Calif., is home to a summer internship program that gives students a first-hand look about the role technology plays in retail. On July 23, Kohl’s interns took part in Kohl’s first ever Intern Innovate-a-Thon.

Miami – A 70,000-sq-.ft., multi-level Whole Foods flagship will serve as retail anchor of a 38-story, 390-unit luxury apartment building that Miami-based The Related Group plans to build in midtown Atlanta.

Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart is the project architect and Atlanta designer Michael Habachy will create the interiors including a grand rooftop clubroom, demonstration kitchen, luxurious South Beach-themed 10th floor pool and more.

Atlanta-based Phillips Partnership will design the Whole Foods Market.

Columbia Sportswear’s retail aspirations arrived in South Florida in the form of a new 5,600-sq.-ft. concept store called Performance Fishing Gear.

Customer expectations of the store have changed dramatically in the last few years as constant connectivity has changed the way consumers live their lives. Johann Wrede, senior director of solution marketing for SAP, recently discussed the evolution of the in-store experience with Chain Store Age.

1. How have customer expectations for the in-store experience changed in the last few years?

New York - With plenty of last year's supplies stowed in the closet and the option to restock at-will, back-to-school shoppers may be in no hurry to fill their shopping baskets by August.   

According to Deloitte's annual back-to-school and back-to-college surveys, 38% of surveyed parents shopping for children in grades K-12 said the back-to-school shopping season is less important to their families because they replenish school supplies throughout the year and feel less need to stock up.