News

Report: J.C. Penney looks abroad for new tech center
The J.C. Penney Co Inc. is reportedly developing a new IT facility in a popular overseas location.
New York grocer reaches out to customers
With 15 regional stores, New York-based Fairway Market needs to compete with larger rivals on quality of experience. To that end, Fairway has deployed the omnichannel retail platform from Index to help better communicate with customers and provide an optimal experience across various touchpoints. The platform includes secure in-store payment solutions that offer processing flexibility and are compliant with EMV and P2PE protocols. Fairway can also accept a variety of tender types, including Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Specialty grocer commits to solar power

Mom’s Organic Market is extending its renewable energy portfolio. The family owned and operated Maryland-based chain has begun purchasing all power from a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland., bundled with national solar renewable energy credits. This 1.5-megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. Mom’s will purchase the entire system's output for the next 20 years.
Pirch, New York City

Upscale kitchen, bath and outdoor appliance retailer Pirch has opened its largest location to date, a three-floor, 32,000-sq.-ft. flagship in an historic, former ironworks building in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.
TechBytes: Staying Competitive on Amazon Prime Day

Tuesday, July 12 marks the return of Amazon Prime Day. Based on last year’s results, Amazon will grab a sizable chunk of all online sales that day. Special “countdown deals” starting July 5 will also help funnel more e-commerce traffic than normal in Amazon’s direction. Walmart is countering with its own July online sales event built around its ShippingPass free shipping program.
Investment, interest in energy efficiency at all-time high

That’s one of the key findings of The 2016 Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey of more than 1,200 facility and energy management executives.
Report: Visa sues Walmart over alleged PIN pilot

Wal-Mart Stores, which filed suit against Visa in May over debit card authorization, is getting taste of its own medicine.
Get ready: Kayne West’s next venture is retail stores

Adidas is doubling down on its relationship with Kanye West, the outspoken entertainer who doubles as a fashion designer. The German sportswear giant and West are expanding their very successful Yeezy brand via a new partnership called adidas + Kanye West. The Yeezy-branded collection will consist of footwear, apparel and accessories for all genders that will work across street and sport.
Survey: Back-to-school means back to spending

Parents are increasing their back-to-school budgets, although overall spending is stagnant compared to recent years. According to a new survey of 1,830 U.S. parents of elementary through college students by Mintel, 52% of respondents plan to spend more on back-to-school (BTS) shopping than in 2015. Only 4% plan to spend less, with 44% planning to spend the same. However, overall planned BTS spending dropped to $68 billion in 2015 after ranging from $73 - $76 billion annually from 2010-2014.
Dick’s Sporting Goods wins bidding war

Dick’s Sporting Goods was the victor on Thursday at the bankruptcy auction for former rival Sports Authority Holdings. Dick’s bid $15 million for the brand name and other intellectual property, beating British-based Sports Direct International PLC’s $13 million bid, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dick’s also had the winning bid at the auction for 31 Sports Authority store leases, for an additional $8 million, the report said.