News

In-store experience evolves with customer expectations
Customer expectations of the store have changed dramatically in the last few years as constant connectivity has changed the way consumers live their lives. Johann Wrede, senior director of solution marketing for SAP, recently discussed the evolution of the in-store experience with Chain Store Age.

1. How have customer expectations for the in-store experience changed in the last few years?
Report: Is Amazon faster than a Jet?
Hoboken, N.J. – Early results indicate Amazon.com may be getting beaten by upstart e-commerce rival Jet.com on price, but Amazon is still outdoing the new kid on the online retail block in one key area. According to data from cloud services provider Instart Logic, the Jet.com homepage takes 25% longer to load than Amazon’s homepage.

Staples jumps into Windows 10

Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. is enthusiastically jumping into the brand new market for the Windows 10 operating system, set for release on July 29. Starting July 29, customers can purchase the latest devices optimized for Windows 10 online at Staples.com and upgrade eligible devices to Windows 10 for free with Staples EasyTech Services.
Barbie who? The Bratz are back at Walmart

A popular fashion doll franchise is launching exclusively at Walmart stores.

After a few years on hiatus, the core Bratz dolls, Cloe, Yasmin, Jade and Sasha, are back along with the newest member to their group of besties, Raya. Walmart will carry the newly launched collection of dolls and playsets encouraging girls to tap into their creativity and imagination to create their own worlds. Also, Walmart is unveiling a line dedicated to a favorite childhood pastime, "Sleepover Party," available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com.
Whole Foods to anchor new Atlanta development

Miami – A 70,000-sq-.ft., multi-level Whole Foods flagship will serve as retail anchor of a 38-story, 390-unit luxury apartment building that Miami-based The Related Group plans to build in midtown Atlanta.

Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart is the project architect and Atlanta designer Michael Habachy will create the interiors including a grand rooftop clubroom, demonstration kitchen, luxurious South Beach-themed 10th floor pool and more.

Atlanta-based Phillips Partnership will design the Whole Foods Market.
TigerDirect wants business customers to 'Ask a shark'

TigerDirect is giving business owners a chance to have their most pressing business growth questions answered by an expert.

The retailer is sponsoring a contest featuring Kevin O'Leary, an entrepreneur, investor, journalist, and financial commentator who is most famous for being a "Shark" investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank.
Study: Back-to-school shopping starts earlier online

New York – Although overall back-to-school shopping is starting later in 2015 than the prior year, online back-to-school shoppers are getting an earlier start than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. According to a new trend report on back-to-school shopping from Internet marketing agency PM Digital, 30% of online shoppers will start buying back-to-school items at least two months before school starts, compared to 22% of overall shoppers.
Old Navy empowers kids to be #Unlimited

This back-to-school season Old Navy is asking kids at Boys & Girls Clubs around the country what it means to be #Unlimited.
Supervalu considers spinning off its best banner

Minneapolis – Supervalu Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and also announced it is considering spinning off its Save-A-Lot grocery banner. Net earnings soared 42% to $61 million, from $43 million in the same quarter the prior fiscal year.

Cost of sales rose at a slower pace than net sales, aiding profit growth. Net sales rose 3% to $5.41 billion, from $5.26 billion.
Columbia’s new concept ties knot with local anglers

Columbia Sportswear’s retail aspirations arrived in South Florida in the form of a new 5,600-sq.-ft. concept store called Performance Fishing Gear.