News

The NRF Foundation has brought together leading retailers and non-profits to launch a job training and credentialing initiative called Rise Up (Retail Industry Skills & Education).   The program is designed to help people — regardless of education, background, economic means or age — acquire the skills they need to secure jobs in retail and advance into promising careers in every aspect of retail, from in-store to digital and mobile commerce, according to the NRF.  

Luxottica Group, the leading eyeglass retailer with multiple U.S. store banners, has entered into a deal that would create a global giant in the optical industry.   Luxottica, whose brands include LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Oliver Peoples, and Pearle Vision, will merge with lens-maker Essilor International of France in a deal valued at $49 billion. The merger brings together the industry’s largest manufacturer with its leading retailer.    

New York-based Clarion Partners has acquired Brookside Shops, a Trader Joe’s-anchored center in Acton, Massachusetts. The company did not disclose the purchase price.   “Brookside Shops is a well-positioned retail center with excellent fundamentals located in a highly affluent trade area,” said Clarion director Gary Rufrano.  

Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service. The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017. Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.

Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service.   The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017.   Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.     

Holiday sales not only beat expectations among industry observers, it hit a five-year high.   Retail sales grew by 4.8% through the holiday season, as compared to the same period in 2015 — and November and December spending growth is the strongest it’s been in five years, according to a new report from Visa.   “The Visa Retail Spending Monitor” tracks retail sales, with the exception of autos, gas, and restaurants, among retail goods, services and stores on Visa payment products. 

Walmart has made some big changes in its executive ranks, bringing together management of its Web and retail teams.     The changes, which the chain has not officially announced, come on the heels of media reports that Karenann Terrell would step down as CIO of Wal-Mart Stores on Feb. 24. As reported by CNBC.com, Walmart’s executive realignment includes the following:  

PGA Tour Superstore is celebrating the opening of its 28th U.S. store.   The privately held retailer has opened a store in Glendale, Arizona, its fifth location in the western state. Two more locations are in the works for 2017, with one in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and another in Jacksonville, Florida.  

Ahold USA can now boost it has “smarter stores” for its increasingly connected consumers.   The supermarket giant has rolled out a new wireless platform from Verizon Enterprise Solutions across its divisions, which include Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover, and Giant Carlisle, The platform has resulted in a digitally rich in-store experience for the grocer’s smartphone-using shoppers.   

Crate and Barrel is taking its omnichannel experience into its own hands.   The home furnishings chain is the latest retailer to join forces with Infor to co-develop the Infor CloudSuite Retail, a suite of application offerings that can be tailored to an individual retailer’s needs. The software prod-uct is designed to deliver superior interactions for store associates and consumers.