News

Survey: Email marketers make customers feel welcome
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and retailers are applying this truism to their email marketing efforts. According to a survey of 150 retail clients by email marketing technology provider Campaigner, 39% of respondents say that the first email content new subscribers see from their brand is a thank-you-for-subscribing message. This approach seems to be working, as almost 50% of respondents report that 21% or more of new subscribers engage with such welcome emails.
POPAI, A.R.E. rebrand under new name
A coordinated rebranding effort has resulted in a new name for retail associations POPAI and A.R.E, which merged last October. The new, combined group has changed its name to Shop!, a trade association focused on enhancing retail environments and experiences. The name is designed to represent the 2,000-plus global member companies and align with the full industry community they support.

Walmart casts wide net for American-made products to sell

For the third year in a row, Walmart hosted more than 450 entrepreneurs during the company’s “Made in the USA” Open Call event held Tuesday, June 28 at its corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. The event, part of Walmart’s fourth annual U.S. Manufacturing Summit, is designed to find products made, assembled or grown in the U.S.
‘One-for-one’ brand to open at nation’s largest mall

Toms Shoes is expanding its fledgling store portfolio, and will open a location at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, in time for holiday shoppers. Founded in 2006, Toms matches every shoe purchase with a donation to a child in need, and gives glasses, medical treatment and/or sight-saving surgery with each purchase of eyewear.
Walgreens saves time and effort spent on digital coupons

Paperless coupons are supposed to easy, and Walgreens is doing its best to make them that way. Walgreens customers now have the ability to redeem digital coupons from Walgreens and manufacturers for online purchases, as well as in-store purchases. Additionally, offers can now be “clipped” on product detail pages and in search results on Walgreens.com, and through the Walgreens mobile app.
Q&A with It’Sugar’s Jeff Rubin: The King of Sweets

Photo: Jeff Rubin, Founder, CEO, It’Sugar (Credit: Patrick Gray, Kabik Photo Group) Jeff Rubin, founder and CEO of It’Sugar, has always had a sweet tooth — and a passion for retail. His father owned a chain of toy stores in the Midwest. After leaving the toy business, he went on to open a chain of bulk candy stores.
Suitsupply and Kendra Scott to bow on San Jose’s Santana Row

Eight new tenants have opened their doors at Silicon Valley’s Santana Row, a 1.7 million sq.-ft. multi-use property that includes a hotel and office and residential space. Suitsupply, a European import, assumes the highest profile of the newcomers with a 4,425 sq.-ft. space. Jewelry retailer Kendra Scott and body and hair care specialist Aesop will inhabit spaces of just over 1,000 sq. ft.
Barnes & Noble Education loss grows in Q4; plans new stores

Restructuring costs helped increase fourth quarter net loss at Barnes & Noble Education Inc. to $2.8 million from $300,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Not all the fourth quarter fiscal news was negative, however. Total sales rose 8% to $294.8 million from $274 million, aided by a 4.5% increase in same-store sales.
Fast-growing fast-casual chain has big plans

Newk’s Eatery is on the move. The fast-casual restaurant chain is expanding into Central Florida, with plans to open 10-12 corporate-owned locations in the Orlando area over the next five years. The expansion is part of the company’s long-term goal to open more than 200 locations by 2018. Construction is underway on the first Orlando-area restaurant in the Waterford Oaks shopping center, owned by BluRock Development. It is slated to open in mid-August.
Three more retailers commit to Green Acres Commons

Macerich’s new outdoor shopping complement to Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y., just got three steps closer to a full house for its planned grand opening this fall. 24-Hour Fitness, Sonic Drive-In, and Ulta Beauty have all committed to space at Green Acres Commons, a 335,000-sq.-ft. retail center.