Store Systems

By Steve Cole, CMO, Gladson

Here’s a bit of holiday cheer for retailers: According to Shop.org, online sales will grow 13%-15% this holiday season. But do retailers have what it takes to cash in?

New York -- Uniqlo, a division of Japan’s Fast Retailing, announced the promotion of Lawrence (Larry) H. Meyer to CEO of Uniqlo USA.
 
Meyer left his post as executive VP of Forever 21 to join Uniqlo in January 2013 as COO. Prior to Forever 21, he served as CFO of Gymboree.

In his new role, Meyers will oversee the day-to-day operations of Uniqlo and hold responsibility for the ongoing development of the company’s retail footprint in the USA.
 

Oakland, Calif. -- Current consumer behavior indicates that most consumers are more concerned with how well retailers are able to deliver goods according to customer preferences than about ordering via social media channels.

A GT Nexus online survey, conducted in association with YouGov, showed that while 3% of respondents say they have purchased goods using social media channels, consumers generally cite the inclusion of delivery/collection options as being important to them when ordering a product either online or in-store (75%).

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. reported that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 2 rose to $8.6 million, from $3.6 million in the same period last year.

Sales edged up to $118.1 million from $117.3 million, and same-store sales increased 4.9%.

During the quarter, the retailer operated an average of 7.3% fewer stores than during the comparable period last year, reflecting its store rationalization program.

This year's November had one additional Saturday and one fewer Thursday compared with November 2012. Despite these calendar shifts, Walgreens still saw comparable store sales climb for the month.

The company reported November sales of $6.1 billion, an increase of 4.1% compared to the same month last year. Total front-end sales increased 3.2%, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.9%. Customer traffic in comparable stores increased 0.8% and basket size increased 1.1%.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to further expand its Los Angeles-area presence with the addition of a Nordstrom Rack at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The approximately 40,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2015. The Rack location at Janss Marketplace is a development by Seritage Realty Trust, a division of Sears Holdings Corporation.

Nordstrom has operated a full-line store approximately one mile from the new Rack location at The Oaks since 2008.

New York -- European Wax Center has signed leases for two new Manhattan locations, according to Winick Realty Group, the broker that represented the retailer in the transaction.

The new locations at 95 Chambers Street and 295 Park Avenue South will bring the Wax Center’s total Manhattan store count to four. Both new locations are expected to open in the spring of 2014.

San Jose, Calif. -- Retail Next announced today the acquisition of Nearbuy Systems, a provider of location-based Wi-Fi Analytics solutions for retailers. Based in San Mateo, Calif., Nearbuy is the largest provider of in-store opt-in analytics, enabling retailers to enhance one-to-one engagement and personalization strategies.