News

TreeHouse practices what it preaches.    The retailer, which specializes in supplies and services that promote healthy and sustainable spaces, has expanded beyond its Austin home base, opening in Dallas. Its new 35,000-sq.-ft. outpost is billed as the nation's first energy-positive (meaning it will generate more energy than it uses) big-box store.   

Scads of national retail chains are seeing their concepts fade out, but regional malls are still firmly in the picture.   That’s the diagnosis put forth in a report titled “Why Mall Reuse is Just Beginning,” from the entrepreneur-driven real estate firm Transwestern. Some key data points include: *Regional malls have had positive net absorption since 2010, with the only blip in absorption occurring in 2009, at the height of the recession.

Amazon is giving its Dash Wand a makeover — make that a “voice over.”   The online giant has upgraded its Amazon Dash Wand with its artificial intelligence-based Alexa functionality. Extending Amazon’s signature virtual assistant Alexa beyond the Echo home speaker offering, the Dash Wand is described as the smallest and most inexpensive Alexa-enabled device, according to Geek Wire.    The Amazon Dash

A new market study finds that Costco Wholesale Club's online prices are lower than Amazon's -- and not by an insignificant amount.

Newegg is making a push to reach even more customers.   The tech-focused retailer is extending its online global reach to dozens of countries in key parts of Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Newegg’s expansion plan will ultimately help the retailer reach customers in a total of 50 countries, according to the company.  

A J.C. Penney store is going to be displaced by a fancy fitness club.   Simon announced that the J.C. Penney store at Southdale Center, in Edina, Minn., will close and be replaced by a Life Time fitness center, or ‘athletic resort.’ Expected to open in early 2019, the three-level facility will be operated by Life Time, which currently runs 123 centers in the United States. The centers are designed as one-stop fitness shops offering tennis, swimming, basketball, and yoga along with weight loss and nutrition education.

Wegmans Food Markets is jumping into the on-demand delivery game.   Through a new partnership with Instacart, the regional grocer now offers one-hour grocery deliveries. The service is currently available in select locations in Virginia, however, the supermarket chain is preparing to launch the program in Maryland, Boston, Southern New Jersey, and Southeastern Pennsylvania, according to Wegmans.  

The Honey Baked Ham Company has tapped a veteran marketer -- and former associate -- to head up its marketing efforts.    The retailer named Jo Ann Herold as chief marketing officer, effective June 12, 2017. Herold returns after previously working with the brand for 16 years. She will lead strategic marketing directing development and execution for retail, franchise and e-commerce to generate continued demand for products and participation with the brand.     

At Home, the fast-growing home decor and accessories retailer, continues to grow its store presence.   The retailer has opened its first Massachusetts location, in Seekonk. It's one of 25 stores the chain will open this year.    

The nation's largest toy store retailer saw its sales decline and net loss widen in a rough first quarter. For the quarter ended April 29, Toys "R" Us reported a net loss of $164 million. That's up from net loss of $126 million in the year-ago period.