Store Systems

New York -- Discount supermarket company WinCo Foods LLC will open its 100th store on May 7, in Lewisville, Texas. The 83,000-sq.-ft. location is the fifth WinCo store to open in the Lone Star State.

The new store features WinCo's signature "Wall of Values" at the entry, which displays a wide variety of high-volume, value-priced products.

WinCo currently operates some 100 stores in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah and Texas.
 

East Cleveland, Ohio -- GE Lighting and Qualcomm Atheros, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., have announced a collaboration to bring indoor positioning technology to retailers, allowing the retailers to pinpoint shoppers’ locations and use mobile apps to personalize the in-store experience.

New York -- O’Reilly Automotive posted a strong first quarter, laying the foundation for continued growth in 2015. America’s second largest retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry said its expansion plans are on track after profit rose in the first quarter on higher sales and better margins, continuing a trend of 15% or greater profit growth for the past six years. The company said it plans to build a new distribution center in Texas to help support its 205 new stores in 2015.

By Jessica Lee, senior manager of mobile, HelloWorld

New York – Specialty eyewear Warby Parker has reportedly received $100 million in financing the company plans to use to build new brick-and-mortar stores. According to the Wall Street Journal, the round of financing, led by T. Rowe Price, values Warby Parker at $1.2 billion.

San Francisco -- Shoppers think it is cool to get digital help finding relevant products and information – and navigating the store, according to a study by RichRelevance. But they are creeped out by digital capabilities that identify, track and use location and demographics, such as targeted advertisements based on facial recognition. In addition, the dressing room is the one area where personalized product information and recommendations are not welcome.

Seattle – Curbside pickup is easy, and so is texting. Combine them, and you have the supreme convenience of a new service Nordstrom is reportedly piloting in several U.S. stores, including its flagship in downtown Seattle.

According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, the service allows customers to text or call ahead of time so a store associate is already waiting on the curb when the customer arrives. Nordstrom, which has allowed in-store pickup of online items since 2008, also plans to pilot the service for men’s alterations.

Frank & Oak, the online membership-based menswear retailer,  is also  expanding in the physical space, with both permanent locations and pop-ups. The company's Toronto flagship  features the brand’s monthly menswear collections and special capsule collections. The spacious, contemporary space reflects the brand’s lifestyle approach to retailing with a café and full-service barbershop.