News

Crate and Barrel is taking its omnichannel experience into its own hands.   The home furnishings chain is the latest retailer to join forces with Infor to co-develop the Infor CloudSuite Retail, a suite of application offerings that can be tailored to an individual retailer’s needs. The software prod-uct is designed to deliver superior interactions for store associates and consumers.   

It was a less than merry holiday for some retailers, especially in the department store sector, but total sales still managed to beat industry projections, fueled by a strengthening economy.    Retail sales (excluding autos, gas stations and restaurants) during November and December rose 4% over 2015 to $658.3 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. The group had forecast sales would rise 3.6% to $655.8 billion.  

Wawa has big plans for the Sunshine State.    The privately-owned, Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain plans to open 25 to 30 stores every year throughout Florida during the next several years.   In 2017, Wawa will start its push into the southeast part of the state, with a first wave of stores opening in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.  

Retail in 2016 had its share of ups and downs. While several major businesses filed for bankruptcy, others in the category saw incredible growth, leveraging technology to connect with customers in new and exciting ways. For instance, Walmart tripled its online catalog and opened more stores that allow shoppers to pick up online orders in-person. In an often-cluttered retail landscape, Walmart and others have shown that technology can be a key differentiator.   

Lowe’s Cos. is shifting to a new staffing model for its stores that will result in the loss of some jobs nationwide.   The new model will be rolled out across Lowe’s stores and is designed to free up resources to boost customer service, CNBC reported.     

One of Target’s rising stars is joining Amazon to drive Prime membership in international markets.   Jamil Ghani, Target’s former senior VP of strategy and innovation, will champion the growth of the retail giant’s Prime presence overseas. He will report to Greg Greeley, VP of Amazon Prime, and be based out of the company’s Seattle headquarters, according to ReCode.  

Helzberg Diamonds is taking steps to ward off credit card fraud.   The jeweler has implemented NCR Connected Payments to mitigate payment card theft and fraud risks for its customers. The cloud-based payment solution provides data and transmission protection, from PIN pad to payment processor, reducing Helzberg’s exposure to potential payment data theft and fraud.   

Customer engagement requires visibility into a shopper’s preferences and path-to-purchase behavior.   By using a cloud-based platform to merge experiences across a customer’s shopping journey, Office Depot Europe will better understand and meet the needs of each individual customer, regardless of where, when, and how they interact with the brand.   

Move over Alibaba — Amazon has a new jobs plan too, one with more details and a more immediate window of opportunity.   

Time Equities has acquired Colony Square, a 425,430-sq.-ft. mall in Zanesville, Ohio, for $31.5 million. It’s now the largest property in the company’s Ohio portfolio.   The enclosed regional mall is anchored by J.C. Penney, Cinemark, Dunham’s Sports, and the Elder-Beerman department store. Urban Retail Properties will handle management, marketing, and leasing at the property on behalf of TEI.