News

Atlanta - IDology, a provider of identity and age verification solutions, has released ExpectID Global GeoTrace, a new anti-fraud tool designed to help identify and eliminate location-based fraud. In addition, IDology has expanded its global identity verification solution, ExpectID Global, to now include coverage for Mexico.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is supporting the Marketplace and Internet Tax Freedom Act. The legislation was introduced by Senators Michael Enzi, Richard Durbin, Lamar Alexander, Heidi Heitkamp, Susan Collins and Mark Pryor.

New York - Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT), a New York-based real estate investment trust, has completed the acquisition of the ground and operating leases at 112 West 34th Street and the ground lease at 1400 Broadway for a total of approximately $734 million in cash, common stock and operating partnership units. 112 West 34th Street is a 26-story, 650,769-rentable-sq.-ft.office tower, with 92,455-sq.-ft. of retail space located in the 34th Street/Penn Station submarket.

Three year old New York-based start-up Unroll.Me announced it is up to one million users, a troubling development for companies who rely on email to connect with their customers.

Welcome to CSA First Look, a showcase for new stores and formats. This inaugural edition spotlights the first physical store of  hot Internet start-up Birchbox, the 800,000 members and growing beauty subscription company. Located in Manhattan's SoHo, the  duplex-styled, 4,500-sq.-ft. store combines the hottest new products with beauty services and weekly make-up classes. Similar to the Birchbox web site, the store puts a big emphasis on expert advice and reader reviews, offered via the touchcreens and iPads located throughout the space.  

Home furnishings retailer West Elm plans to open a new retail store in New Orleans, Louisiana, Thursday, July 24, at 10 a.m. — its first in the state.

Greenwood Village, Colorado -- Red Robin Gourmet Burger announced it has completed the acquisition of 32 Red Robin franchised restaurants in the United States and Canada, for approximately $40 million from Mach Robin, LLC and Mach Robin, LLC’s Canadian affiliate.

Atlanta – Aaron’s Inc. on Tuesday said it plans to close 44 underperforming stores in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and continue other cost-reduction initiatives in response to disappointing core business performance. The electronics, furniture and appliances rentals retailer also revised its earnings guidance downward for the second quarter.

The company praised the performance of its recently purchased Progressive Finance unit.