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I recently had the opportunity to visit the Wayfair Next innovation lab at Wayfair’s downtown Boston headquarters.   My genial hosts, Wayfair co-founder Steven Conine and Wayfair Next director Mike Festa, explained the lab’s mission and let me demo some very cool technologies.  

Retail group argues for  debit card swipe fee regulations.   The National Retail Federation said Congress should reject a proposal from the head of the House Financial Services Committee to repeal a cap on debit card swipe fees. According to the NRF, the fees have saved consumers billions of dollars over the past five years.  

Retail tenants are not only reporting a strong performance for the year so far, but are also optimistic about the next six months.

The National Retail Federation on Thursday pointed a dire outcome if the new overtime regulations are implemented as is.     The NRF told the House Small Business Committee that the new regulations  will lead to hiring freezes and layoffs for full-time workers if enacted as planned December 1.   “Proponents of this rule have touted the changes as a welcomed job creator,” NRF senior VP for government relations David French said. “These claims are riddled with partial truths.”

Retail tenants are not only reporting a strong performance for  the year so far, but are also optimistic about the next six months.  

Chain Store Age recently visited Wayfair Next, the in-house innovation lab in the Boston headquarters of online home furnishings retailer Wayfair Inc.

Steven Conine, co-founder of Wayfair and Mike Festa, director of Wayfair Next, discussed the lab’s mission and the importance of innovation in retail.

Whole Foods Market continues its expansion in the Chicago market, opening a store in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s the grocer’s 26th Chicagoland location.  

Some things are easier said than done. And increasingly, that notion applies to closing stores.   Although analysts and investors say that retail companies need to continue to shrink their store portfolios, the decision to do has become increasingly complex for merchants, many of whom have already shed their most unprofitable locations, according to a CNBC report.  

Barnes & Noble is getting serious about restaurants.   The bookseller announced it has promoted Jaime Carey, currently COO, to president of development & restaurant group, effective immediately. Carey will be responsible for overseeing the chain’s real estate development and its newly created restaurant group.   

Think online is the biggest challenge traditional retailers face? Think again.