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Packed and bursting with opportunities

Ground-up projects are hard to come by here, but shopping center innovation and new retailers are not

Density and diversity. The two D’s. That, in short, is what sums up the Northeast market for retailers. It’s the place where chains with national expansion plans or new formats to test need to be.

TRENDING STORES: Two Canadian brands are dropping anchor in the United States. Health and beauty retailer Saje Natural Wellness, which operates 45 locations up north, will open two stores in the Los Angeles area by year end. Another 25 stores are on tap for 2017. Featuring natural wellness, personal and home care products and accessories, Saje stores are open, light and airy, with a high level of design. The Saje store at Toronto’s Sherway Gardens features a 30-foot Italian tile façade.

Innovation is today’s buzzword. And it was all the talk at Chain Store Age’s X/SPECS 2016, as key executives from some of the nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains zeroed in on real-world strategies designed to innovate stores and elevate customer experiences.

There is little doubt the public’s fear about safety has been heightened. In fact, the news these days is saturated with danger signals. Some people feel the threat of public spaces more acutely than others.

Having been trapped in a building two blocks from ground zero on 9/11, I myself have become hyperaware. I’ve devoted a lot of thought to how we can make shoppers feel more secure in the spaces we design so that they will be drawn to a store, be comfortable staying, and finally, lose themselves in the experience and want to return another day.

LEDs, wireless controls are key to the future of retail lighting solutions

Lighting is fundamental to any retail store, whether for setting a scene and influencing how a brand is perceived or even encouraging shoppers to make a particular purchase. However, if not managed correctly, it can be extremely expensive. In fact, lighting accounts for around 53% of all electricity consumption in a typical retail outlet, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Target Corp. is thinking out of the box in urban and other select areas.

The retailer’s flexible format store is designed to allow it to open in locations — ranging from downtown areas to college neighborhoods — that can’t accommodate a big-box footprint. The stores, which also serve as convenient pick-up destinations for online orders, run the gamut in size depending on their location. But most seem to average from about 20,000 to 40,000 sq. ft. The smallest, at 12,000 sq. ft., is in Berkely, Calif.

McDonald’s leverages smart technology for onboarding training

Onboarding is a costly process for any company, especially one as vast as McDonald’s Corp. But by transitioning a paper-based operation to a digital one driven by smart devices, the fast food giant is slashing training time in half.

As digital disruptors continue to alter retail operations, brands are working to harness these emerging innovations to drive engagement among shoppers and employees. Look for the National Retail Federation’s upcoming 106th annual convention to educate attendees on these and other critical business strategies.

New app allows shoppers to skip the checkout line

Sam’s Club is no stranger to embracing digital disruptors. In one of its most recent initiatives, the retailer is rolling out a free app that allows members to use their smartphone to completely bypass the checkout lane at any Sam’s Club location nationwide. The chain sees the program — called Scan & Go — as an early holiday gift for its harried, time-starved shoppers.

In the days and weeks since Election Day, much has been written about the impact results will have on store and restaurant operators. Other than some unease regarding trade and consumer confidence, entry-level employers generally feel optimistic about what might lie ahead with policy changes to taxes, wages and healthcare.

Most employers feel like they had a big “win” election night and in many cases, they may be right. But I think it’s a little early for employers to lace up their shoes for a collective victory lap around the boardroom.