Store Systems

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. opens a new store in Webster, Texas, on March 28. Each Sears Outlet Store, on average, offers shoppers more than 18,000-sq.-ft. of retail space.

New York -- H & M, Hennes & Mauritz AB opens its first Hawaii store in Waikiki on March 28. The store features a one-of-a-kind installation featuring artwork of local surf photographers Mike Coots, Sarah Lee and Zak Noyle.

The Waikiki store has hired 160 local employees.

Because it is a global company with five country-specific sites and plans to expand, Toms recently extended its initial six-month engagement with TAISTech for two additional years. TAISTech will provide ongoing maintenance and support for all of the Toms sites that currently use the Oracle Commerce ATG and Endeca platform.

TAISTech provides flexible ATG support plans through onshore, offshore or blended models. Toms selected the offshore model, which provides lower overall costs, coupled with high-quality, responsive solutions.
 

By Jeff Echols, senior director of product and solutions marketing, CommVault

Tampa, Fla. — Global Realty and Management has appointed RMC Property Group the exclusive leasing agent for its Shoppes at Glen Lakes, a 66,600-sq.-ft. retail shopping center located on U.S. 19 in Weeki Wachee, Fla.

Memphis, Tenn. – A mixed-use retail center has reportedly been proposed for downtown Memphis. According to the Memphis Daily News, the 10,500-sq.-ft., two-story building would contain office, restaurant and café space, as well as a potential convenience store.

New York -- Toys “R” Us has launched a new strategy to drive future growth that includes a big emphasis on improving its in-store customer experience.

The nation’s largest toy retailer said it will update its existing stores to make them easier to shop, focusing on everything from the restrooms and lighting to the flooring and signage. It also is committed to reducing in-store clutter and improving in-stocks and checkout speed (slow checkouts registered as a big customer complaint in its research.).

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) told the Senate on March 26 that it’s time for an overhaul of the nation’s credit- and debit-card system, saying banks’ insistence on cards that use a signature instead of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) puts merchants and their customers at risk.