News

Study: 64% of U.S. households own smartphones
Arlington, Va. -- The dominance of the mobile channel is illustrated in a new survey from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which reveals that two-thirds (64%) of U.S. households now own smartphones, surpassing ownership of basic cell phones 51%) for the first time, according to a new study.
Industry Leaders
Real estate is a complex issue no matter what industry you’re in. For retailers, who typically operate on slim margins and are generally the first industry to feel the effects of variations in consumer spending, navigating the tricky waters of real estate can be especially challenging.

Retail Reimagined at Verizon

Verizon Wireless has embarked on an ambitious initiative to transform the customer experience across its portfolio of 1,700 company-owned stores. The new strategy emphasizes lifestyle over product and promotes in-store engagement and interactivity.
“We are transforming the focus of our stores from selling devices to enabling customers to discover all that wireless technology can do for their mobile lifestyles,” said Domenico D’Ambrosio, executive director, national retail operations, Verizon Wireless.
Ingles Markets has solid Q2

Asheville, N.C. – Ingles Markets reported a large increase in net income and smaller increase in net sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Net income soared 29.2% to $105 million from $8.1 million, while net sales grew 2.9% to $947.8 million from $920.7 million.
Urban March

Redevelopment continues to ignite retail
One of the most fascinating aspects of our ongoing economic recovery is the paradigm shift with respect to commercial development priorities. In the wake of the recession, new development has largely taken a backseat to redevelopment as developers and retailers alike have set their sights on opportunities in core urban markets that have been historically underserved.
Pharmacy sales boost CVS profit in Q1

Woonsocket, R.I. – Net income at CVS Caremark Corp. increased 18.3% to $1.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, compared with approximately $1 billion a year earlier. Pharmacy services and retail pharmacy segments both benefited from the impact of increased generic drugs dispensed and slower growth in expenses.
In the Spotlight: HVAC and Refrigeration

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology is in the midst of a dramatic evolution brought on by a variety of factors, including regulations, retailers’ needs for technological sophistication, operational and cost efficiency, and ease of implementation and use. These and other topics were discussed in the SPECS session, “Evolution, Revolution: The Future of HVAC and Refrigeration.”
Session moderator Bob Keingstein, president of Boss Facility Services, asked panelists to discuss several pointed questions focused on different key areas of the evolution of HVAC.
Time to Celebrate

Mixed-use project Celebration Pointe is set to move forward
For Gainesville, Fla.-area residents, these are exciting times. Celebration Pointe, one of the more distinctive mixed-use projects in the state of Florida, is about to hit a significant milestone: The initial phase of the ambitious, $170 million development broke ground in April with site preparation and significant public infrastructure upgrades.
CVS 'solid’ in first quarter

Despite severe weather-related issues during the first quarter, CVS reported “solid results” across the enterprise and executives expressed optimism in achieving 2014 goals.
Blackhawk Canada enables smartphone card payments

Pleasanton, Calif. - Prepaid payment network Blackhawk Network (Canada) Ltd. has launched its digital platform in the Canadian market, by offering Blackhawk's gift card products to Rogers' customers in the new Suretap wallet application. The application allows customers to safely store eligible payment and gift cards on their smartphones and make purchases directly from the phone by holding it up to contactless payment terminals.