News

Famed New York retailer—and felon—dies
The man who founded the Crazy Eddie consumer electronics chain has died at the age of 68. Eddie Antar grew his company from one location in Brooklyn, New York, to the largest electronics retailer in the New York metro area in the 1980s, with 43 stores in four states. The chain gained national fame for its television commercials which featured a maniacal-looking pitchman (which many people mistakenly took to be Antar) screaming at the end of the spot that Crazy Eddie’s prices were “insane.”
Rutter’s Farm engages on-the-go shoppers
The fuel pump is becoming an increasingly critical customer touch point.

Often overlooked in the omnichannel experience, convenience store fuel pumps are a prime way to reach on-the-go shoppers. Extending their partnership with NCR, Rutter’s Farm is adding a new outdoor payment terminal to reach this time-pressed customer segment.

Naples Outlet Center getting a makeover

A 25-year-old outlet center in East Naples, Florida, is undergoing an extensive facelift and seeking new retail blood, according to Crossman & Company, which has just been signed as its leasing agent.

Once filled with shoppers, the Naples Outlet Center has dropped in recent years due to an economic downturn in the area, according the Naples Daily News. In 2014, nearly half of its 40 stores were vacant.
Target first out of the gate with holiday hiring plans

The holiday hiring wars have begun.

Target Corp. is the first national retailer to announce its holiday hiring plans with the news that it plans to hire 70,000 seasonal store associates. The amount is the same as last year.

In addition, the discounter plan to hire 7,500 employees to work in its distribution and fulfillment facilities during the holiday season, which is slightly up from last year.
California home furnishings chain names CEO

Photo: Brian Woods
Innovative concept changes things up at Santa Monica Place

Out with the old, in with the new at Macerich’s Santa Monica Place, in Santa Monica, California. WithMe, an interactive brick-and-mortar shopping experience that features limited runs of traditional and pure-play retail brands, has opened three new fashion pop-ups in its flagship space at the mall.
Report: Mall traffic up with teens

Teens are returning to one of their former favorite destinations.

According to a survey by Willian Blair of teens and young adults, teens are visiting malls more in 2016 than they were in 2015, benzinga reported.
Grandin Road, Macy’s, New York

Grandin Road has made the leap to brick-and-mortar with a spooky in-shop at Macy’s Manhattan flagship.

The brand’s 1,400-sq.-ft. Halloween pop-up is elaborately designed to offer a bewitching immersive experience, complete with digital signage animated with spiders, a costumed witch and scary animatronic products (also available for purchase.) An on-site photo booth allows customers to create a fun memento of their visit.
Hostage By Hanjin: How to keep inventory moving when supply stops

The collapse of Hanjin Shipping, the seventh largest freight carrier in the world, has left $14 billion worth of cargo in limbo. Much of that is literally floating around in the ocean, unable to dock; the rest is sitting idle in ports waiting to be unloaded. For Samsung, that means $38 million worth of electronics and appliances are held hostage in the carrier-bankruptcy case. And HP has 500 containers filled with computers waiting to reach American soil.
Commentary: UPS Shipping Price Rate Hikes

On Sept. 1, UPS announced that effective Dec. 26, 2016, the UPS U.S. Ground service daily rate will increase by an average net 4.9%. Additionally, UPS Freight announced an average net 4.9% general rate increase effective Sept. 19, 2016.
Jo-Ann Stores names Fred’s, Walgreens vet to new exec role

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has appointed Bryan Pugh to the newly created position of executive VP, stores and store operations. He will lead financial, operational and cultural leadership of Jo-Ann Stores.

Pugh joins Jo-Ann from Fred’s Pharmacy & Super Dollar where he served as executive VP, chief merchandising and marketing officer. His experience also includes serving as senior VP, chief merchandising officer at Walgreen Co. in addition to several roles of increasing responsibility at Tesco.
New Saks is ‘first of its kind’

Saks Fifth Avenue’s new store in New York City is unlike any other the retailer has opened to date.

Located at Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan, the 86,000-sq.-ft. store is decidedly smaller than most Saks’ locations. It feels more like a boutique than a department store, with some traditional departments, such as handbags eliminated. (Handbags and certain other products are grouped by brand as opposed to category.) It also boasts such new services as a “power lunch” offering.