News

New York -- Hispanic adults are more frequently visiting retailer websites than the average online population, according to Experian Marketing Services.

During a 24-week period, from June 2013 through November 2013, Hispanics' market share of visits to Experian Marketing Services' Hitwise Retail 500 Websites was 21% higher on average than the online population. Further, the analysis found that this market share widened in October 2013 and continued to increase through November.

Fitness and fashion are well met at Foot Locker’s newest retail banner, SIX:02. Targeting active, performance-minded young women, the lifestyle brand features apparel, footwear and accessories for a range of activities, from yoga to running to dance — and more.

“SIX:02 is a fitness-fashion destination,” said Mary Lynn Waite, senior designer, Chute Gerdeman, Columbus, Ohio. “The merchandise has crossover appeal in that it can take the customer from the gym to doing errands to meeting friends for coffee to lounging at home.”

By Ike Boruchow, analyst, Sterne Agee, New York

This year, Black Friday gave us a taste of what to expect for the remainder of the holiday selling season: intense competition, deep discounts, and choppy mall traffic. Earlier store openings drove heavy traffic, which dissipated and then bounced through the day.

Big Lots has added three general merchandise managers as the company continues realigning the merchandising organization into three customer-centric categories: food and consumables, furniture and home décor and seasonal, toys and electronics.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced it has reached a definitive agreement to sell 11 of its Dominick's stores in the Chicago metropolitan area in a cash and lease assumption transaction to Roundy's, Inc. Roundy's will take possession of the stores during a transition period that will take place over the next two months.

Developers in the Northeast are renovating, redeveloping and raising rents

What are retail shopping center developers up to in the vibrant northeastern region of the United States?

All across the Northeast — in which we include Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the traditional northeastern states to the north — developers are renovating, redeveloping, raising rents, welcoming tenants and starting to get back to normal.

New York City has seen an influx of new retail this past year. Everyone has their favorites. Here are mine:

•  Alexander McQueen: The British fashion brand’s new Upper East Side flagship boasts a lavish design that is both strange and utterly romantic, with an attention to detail that mirrors McQueen’s signature stylings. Marble and ornate moldings, black marble floors, black lacquer and brass hanging racks are combined with a soft color palette. (747 Madison Ave.)

SodaStream International named veteran entertainment industry executive Scott Guthrie as regional general manager of the Americas reporting directly to CEO Daniel Birnbaum.