News

Chip-card payment system delays costing retailers
Delays in the required certification of payment terminals that accept credit and debit cards with embedded chips are frustrating many retailers, particularly midsized ones, and also costing them as, since Oct. 1, stores that cannot accept chip cards have had to shoulder the cost of fraud — and banks are not shy about passing along the bill, the New York Times reported.
Shopify swims in new channels
E-commerce platform Shopify wants to help retailers engage customers, regardless of location or platform.

Having already launched integrations with major social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, Shopify is branching out in a big way. The company is allowing developers to build new connections it calls “sales channels,” which can include links to apps, platforms and digital marketplaces.

Total Wine to make Gainesville debut at Butler North

Butler Enterprises has signed the first Total Wine in the Gainesville market to join the array of anchors at Butler North, the next step in the multi-year expansion of iconic Butler Plaza. The 20,000-sq.-ft. store is expected to open in early spring 2017.
New Restoration Hardware program offers shoppers more exclusivity

Home furnishings retailer RH (Restoration Hardware) is rolling out a new membership program that aims to reimagine the luxury shopping experience by adding an element of exclusivity.

The company has announced the launch of the RH Grey Card. For a $100 annual fee, the RH Grey Card provides 25% savings on everything RH, every day, across all of its brands – RH, RH Modern, RH Baby & Child, RH TEEN and RH Contemporary Art.
Francesca's was a big holiday shopping destination

Francesca’s says its fourth quarter financial results show that the retailer's growth initiatives are bearing fruit, as the company posted a big jump in same-store sales over the holidays.

For the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Jan. 30, same-store sales at Francesca's increased 11%. Net sales increased 25% to $134.6 million from $107.6 million in the prior year quarter.Net income totaled $14.7 million, or 35 cents diluted earnings per share, compared to $6.0 million, or 14 centsdiluted earnings per share, in the comparable prior year period.
Specialty grocer meets delivery demand

Ethnic grocery chain H Mart is expanding its partnership with Instacart nationally.

Lyndhurst, New Jersey-based H Mart, which operates more than 45 U.S. and Canadian stores, specializes in Asian grocery products. H Mart is now offering Instacart deliveries in as little as one hour to consumers in Philadelphia. Coming soon, the retailer will also offer Instacart services in markets including Orange County, Washington, D.C., suburbs, Atlanta, Chicago suburbs, Los Angeles, and Houston. Instacart prices will match H Mart in-store prices.
Advance Auto Parts exec rejoins JLL

Companies of all sizes, and increasingly retailers, are implementing integrated portfolio management solutions to make smarter real estate decisions and solve their business challenges.

To better support retailers with their real estate portfolios, JLL announced that it has welcomed back Geno Coradini to the firm as executive VP, retail integrated portfolio services lead. He will be responsible for working with our retail tenant representative brokers nationally to support JLL’s retailer client base.
Zumiez turns stores into mini-fulfillment centers

Teen retailer Zumiez has enhanced its omnichannel strategy by using its stores as local fulfillment centers for online purchases.

The Lynwood, Washington-based retailer of board-sports apparel and gear wants to ensure customers can seamlessly shop among its 600-plus brick-and-mortar and digital channels. To that end, it has partnered with supply chain management software provider SalesWarp to aid in the performance of distributed order management, customer service, warehouse management, and in-store fulfillment.
Study: Millenials driving revolution in in-store shopping experiences

Brick-and-mortar retailers are on notice – shifting customer demographics will require far-reaching redesign of the physical store by 2025.

According to a new study from technology market intelligence firm ABI Research, millennials are driving a revolution in how stores use technology to provide a shopping experience.
And the Store of the Year is…
Online jewelry retailer continues mall expansion with 'Webroom' format

Online fine jeweler Blue Nile is set to open its first physical location outside of New York City in an ongoing effort to reimagine the jewelry buying experience.

Seattle-based Blue Nile said it would open a store at Tysons Corner Center mall in Fairfax County, Virginia by mid-summer as part of a strategy to open four locations this year.
Belk rocks Charleston with annual music fest

While the annual South By Southwest festival was underway in Austin, regional department store operator Belk was connecting with its core customers in the southeast by hosting a festival of its own.