News

Edens to make Buckhead center over with local retailers
Andrews Square in the Buckhead section of Atlanta is being infused with local flavor. Signed as the new anchor at the center in the affluent neighborhood’s West Village section is Lucy’s Market, a purveyor of organics, fresh produce, and prepared meals owned by West Village resident Kim Wilson. Center owner Edens is in the midst of a makeover of Andrews Square intended to make it blend with the local landscape and culture.
Macy’s in big store closing move
Macy’s Inc. announced that it will close 100 full-line namesake stores as part of a wider effort to improve its business and succeed in an omnichannel environment. The move comes after six straight quarters of declining same-store sales. The department store giant said it plans to concentrate its resources on the best-performing locations, and to invest in those stores by adding new vendor shops, increasing the size and quality of staff and new technology.

Walmart teams up with personal care brand on new girls campaign

Walmart, along with organizations around the world, has teamed up with personal care brand Always to contribute to the goal of keeping girls in sports with a new campaign. The Always #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing program will partner with UN Women to help girls build and maintain their confidence through sports. In the U.S., Always will support Girls on the Run programs and work with Walmart to help keep girls in sports.
Study: EMV pushing aside other payment priorities

Reducing credit and debit card fraud by implementing EMV chip card acceptance has become retailers’ top payment issue in 2016.
Report: Supermarket spin-off could be soon

Supervalu is moving closer to spinning off its Save-A-Lot discount grocery banner. The latest SEC filing by Supervalu is its most thoroughly documented to date, and details a 60/40 stock split of Save-A-Lot once it goes public, Twin Cities Business reported.
Amazon vet joins Target

Target Corp. has tapped another veteran of Amazon to join its supply chain team. The retailer announced that it has appointed Preston Mosier as senior VP, fulfillment operations, effective Aug. 14.
There’s a new story at Story — and even Neiman Marcus is in on the act

Story, the innovative retail store in Manhattan that totally reinvents itself every few months, has gone nostalgic with its latest revamp. Story’s new installation, “Remember When,” offers an immersive retro experience that celebrates Nickelodeon’s memorable characters and iconic shows — “Rugrats” and “Sponge Bob” to name just two — from the ‘90s, just in time for the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon.
Sur La Table moves to make online shopping easier

Sur La Table has launched a new solution designed to ensure online shoppers are able to easily find the best product. The retailer of kitchen and table goods has deployed a tool from Edgecase (its ‘adaptive navigation solution”), which uses cleansed and enriched product attributes to make finding the right product online easier and more inspiring.
Restoration Hardware puts spotlight on design in new store

Restoration Hardware has few equals — and spares no expense — when it comes to creating luxurious retail destinations. The luxury home furnishings retailer’s newest store, at The Gallery at Town Center Plaza, Leawood, Kansas, represents the latest iteration of its next-generation design galleries. The three-level, 56,000-sq.-ft. store includes an entire floor dedicated to the brand’s new concept, RH Modern, complete with an integrated RH Contemporary Art Gallery.
Ralph Lauren turnaround effort impacts Q1

Ralph Lauren Corp. swung to a loss in its first quarter as costs related to efforts to turn around its business cut into first quarter earnings. But it still managed to beat Wall Street expectations. The company lost $22 million, or 27 cents per share, versus net income of $64 million, or 73 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue in the quarter was down 4% to a better-than-expected $1.55 billion.
Study: Self-service checkouts encourage theft
JLL brings food theme to Broadway

When JLL took over retail leasing for 1407 Broadway, just south of Times Square in New York, it decided to break up the four existing retail pads on the ground floor into eight and emphasize food. That plan is now coming into fruition with the signing of Gregory’s Coffee, Juice Generation, Luke’s Lobster, and ‘Witchcraft as the first four tenants.