News

Starbucks to use new upscale format to make Italian debut
Starbucks Coffee Company will open for business in Italy for the first time in late 2018. The coffee giant plans to open a 25,500-sq.-ft. Reserve Roastery outpost in late 2018 in Milan, in the historic, turn-of-the-century post office building in the city’s center. The Milan Reserve Roastery will be the first Starbucks Roastery to open in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and the fifth, globally. It is the first of additional Starbucks stores the company plans to open in Italy.
Five Items a Retailer Should Have in its Lease
Changes in the retail landscape call for changes in lease agreements, as well
With long-time anchors leaving malls, urgent care clinics moving into neighborhood centers, and online sellers applying pressure from all sides, retailers should take a new approach in structuring their lease agreements with property owners, say experts from both sides of the negotiations table.

Decoding the Code

Newest ASHRAE standard reduces LPD allowances
The ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1 energy standard provides a model energy code to jurisdictions interested in regulating the energy-efficient design of commercial buildings. ASHRAE recently published the 2016 version, which supersedes the 2013 version.
The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes the 2013 version as the national energy reference standard. Starting in October 2016, all states were required to have an energy code in place at least as stringent as 90.1-2013 or justify why they could not comply.
Breakout Retailers

CSA’s annual award program honors five growing brands
Innovation in retail means breaking down barriers, navigating a fiercely competitive marketplace and making connections with increasingly demanding customers. In this section, Chain Store Age profiles five retailers that are succeeding in both. They are the winners of CSA’s Breakout Retailers Awards.
Off-pricer tops earnings expectations

The off-price segment continues to be one of the brightest spots in brick-and-mortar retail. Ross Stores on Tuesday reported earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017 of $.77, up 17% from the prior year, on net earnings that rose 14% to a better-than-expected $301 million. But the retailer offered a cautious outlook amid economic and industry challenges. Ross’ sales quarter grew 8% to $3.5 billion. Same-store sales increased 4%.
COO Reset

Omnichannel environment places evolving demands, challenges on C-suite executives
The transformation of retail from brick and mortar into a digital omnichannel environment has caused an evolution in certain key roles in the C-suite.
Antony Karabus, CEO of HRC Retail Advisory, spoke with Chain Store Age about how the key role of the chief operating officer is evolving to enhance the transformation of retail companies in today’s more complex environment.
What is the typical scope of responsibilities of a retail COO?
Target misses bullseye in Q4 as profit, sales fall; gives weak 2017 outlook

Strong online sales were not enough to help Target Corp. overcome a very disappointing fourth quarter, whose sales and earnings were far below Wall Street expectations. And the discounter offered a weak outlook for 2017. Target on Tuesday issued a full-year profit forecast that was far below market expectations, and said it plans to invest more money into enhancing its digital online platform and cutting prices. The chain said it would sacrifice gross margins this year to stay ahead of the competition.
Nasty Gal to live on

Nasty Gal is getting a new lease on life — but only in the digital space. The brand, which was acquired out of bankruptcy in early February by British online fashion group Boohoo.com, will live on under new leadership as a pure player. Nasty Gal recently closed its two brick-and-mortar stores, both of which were in the Los Angeles area.
Retail Transformation

Turning historic spaces into contemporary stores
Driving Unified Commerce — with Drones

The quest to be a leader in unified commerce remains on top of retailers’ to-do lists. And those companies that tap the power of drones could be positioning themselves to become leaders in the game.
A process that breaks down operational silos, unified commerce requires retailers to transform their organization, business processes and technology to align with customer demands. The result: the ability to drive a top-notch, frictionless, non-frustrating and valuable customer experience.