News

Charlotte, N.C. - Family Dollar Inc. is overhauling its store network. The retailer has selected Interface Security Systems Holdings Inc. as its IP managed service provider across its entire retail platform.

Family Dollar recently completed a major initiative to modernize and refresh critical technology in each of its stores. The technology makeover, or Flat Rate Managed Service Project, was launched in collaboration with Interface in July 2014 and is scheduled for completion by May 2015.

Dhiraj Jain, business development head of retail products and IP for global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), recently took some time to explain exactly how the POS is evolving into a full-fledged omnichannel commerce platform.

How has the role of the point of sale (POS) evolved over the years?

A traditional POS is no longer sufficient to fulfill demands of the modern retailer.

Residents of Texas and Oklahoma will have two more places to buy guns this month when new Gander Mountain Company stores open with huge firearms departments.

Gander Mountain will open two new locations in Texas and Oklahoma on March 12. The new store in Killeen continues the brand's major expansion into the Texas market and will be the 20th store in the state. The new location in Tulsa marks Gander Mountain's entry into Oklahoma and the 27th state overall.

Focus on concrete moisture and mitigation

Damage to flooring from concrete slab moisture costs U.S. companies upwards of $1 billion each year. When we interviewed flooring industry experts, more than 70% of them reported that they experience moisture issues “often,” with 100% of those surveyed in unanimous agreement that they had experienced some moisture issues.

Moisture issues show up as distorted flooring (such as curling and buckling), adhesive coming through the joints and alkalinity.

The Fresh Market will cede some of its market share to its biggest competitor even as it posted strong fourth quarter earnings and an upbeat outlook for 2015.

The company announced that it would be exiting California by the end of this month and closing all three of its remaining stores there, as it focuses on its stores in the eastern part of the United States. The company also cited slower “organic store growth” as another reason for the decision.

Do more with less. That’s an overall trend in retail facilities services, where retailers have less resources to run their properties even as they come under pressure to increase service levels while also reducing costs.

Open-air centers go far beyond shopping

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen declared 2014 an outstanding year and it is easy to see why after the nation’s leading supermarket operator again surpassed performance expectations.