News

Payment issues hit some Etsy sellers
The July Fourth long weekend was not a happy one for many users of the Etsy online marketplace, which has been hit by lingering transactional problems. Since July 1, what Etsy has described as a third-party payments processing issue has left thousands of purchases in limbo. A thread in the “Bugs” section of the Etsy online community forum has registered more than 4,000 complaints from buyers and sellers who cannot complete transactions. Etsy users have also been venting their frustrations on Twitter and Reddit.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: How to Have a Happy Mobile Summer
As consumers continue shifting to mobile-only shopping experiences this summer, retailers have a greater need than ever for an e-commerce platform that delivers responsive, consistent experiences across any given device or channel.

With Rite Aid deal on track, Walgreens Boots Alliance Q3 sales hit $29.5 billion

Walgreens Boots Alliance reported climbing sales and profits in a generally successful third quarter of fiscal 2016.
In-store technologies: Separating the ‘cool’ from the ‘creepy'

Smart mirrors are a ‘cool’ in-store technology, but facial recognition software is another story entirely. Those are among the findings of a new survey by RichRelevance, a provider of omnichannel personalization technology. The company surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. and U.K. consumers about how technology can impact their in-store shopping experience, highlighting the differences between what shoppers thought was ‘cool’ and ‘creepy’.
Amazon Books headed to Hudson Yards

Amazon Books is headed to Hudson Yards, the massive redevelopment underway on New York’s west side, according to a report in the New York Post. The online retailer debuted its bricks-and-mortar retail format last November, at University Village in Seattle, and is set to open a second location, in San Diego, this summer. A third location, at Washington Square Mall, in Tigard, Oregon, is expected to open this fall. The Hudson Yards location would be Amazon’s East Coast beachhead.
Tech veteran promoted to Oracle Retail VP

A 30-year industry veteran is taking day-to-day control of the Oracle Retail global business unit. Oracle has appointed Ray Carlin as senior VP and general manager, Oracle Retail. Carlin will be responsible for leading the Oracle Retail global business unit and report to Mike Webster, Oracle’s senior VP and general manager, retail and hospitality.
Walgreens adds new features for paperless coupons

Walgreens recently made it easier for customers to clip coupons.
NRF: Consumers want swipe fee status quo

The people have spoken – and they like limits on debit card swipe fees the way they are.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

The South has an abundance of entertainment developments popping up, possibly more than anywhere else in the country, thanks to its climate and land availability. The milder climate enables developers to incorporate more outdoor elements like amphitheaters, children’s play areas, trail systems and concepts such as Topgolf, as well as experiences like free yoga or movies being displayed in gathering spaces.
DINING EXPERIENCE

Restaurants have long served as critical components in the experiential equation of Steiner + Associates town centers. “Eating out is in,” said Yaromir Steiner. “Whether it is a chef-driven concept or a fast-casual restaurant, dining is an inherently social activity that elevates the destination status of a community, drives traffic and captures coveted discretionary dollars.

It is a synergy evident in many of the restaurant concepts that call Steiner + Associates’ projects home, as exemplified by The Northstar Café.
A FRESH TAKE ON ‘RETAILTAINMENT’

Entertainment concepts are the future of retail fun

Retail has been the foundation of shopping centers throughout their existence, but new entertainment concepts are making inroads in traditional retail venues.

Even in mixed-use venues, it’s generally accepted that a critical mass of traditional retail is the highlight, and that other uses are complementary pieces, designed to drive traffic and support the retail component.
EAT AND PLAY

An influx of restaurants and entertainment concepts is changing the look of shopping centers nationwide and altering the role these centers play in their communities. It is a trend Retail Properties of America has seen play out firsthand as owner and operator of 192 retail properties encompassing nearly 30 million sq. ft.