News

Report: Amazon tries its hand at a different kind of pop-up
Amazon is preparing for its newest physical store — and promoting its alcoholic products at the same time. The online giant is opening a pop-up bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district. The location, which will be open for 10 days, will sell beer, wine, sake and cocktails sold on its Japanese website, as well as exclusive products and samples not yet for sale, according to Bloomberg.
Report: Online giant testing its own delivery service
Amazon’s new program could give carriers like United Parcel Service and FedEx a run for their money. The online giant is experimenting with a program that rivals services handled by longtime partners UPS and FedEx. Specifically, it is dabbling in a program designed to make more products available for free two-day delivery and relieve overcrowding in its warehouses, according to Bloomberg.

Joplin power center changes hands

Chase Properties has acquired North Point Shopping Center in Joplin, Missouri, from Kimco Realty Corp.
Embattled department store retailer gets fresh cash infusion from owner

As it heads into its most important selling season, Sears Holding Corp. is receiving another cash infusion from its CEO and largest shareholder. Sears is borrowing $100 million from units of CEO Eddie Lampert's hedge fund ESL Investments for "general corporate purposes," according to a regulatory filing. The new infusion brings the total of Lampert's outstanding loans to Sears to $499.4 million.
Study: More than half of retailers ready for AI

In a move to step up their customer experiences, more retailers are embracing artificial intelligence (AI). This was according to the third quarterly “2017 E-commerce Performance Index,” a report from SLI Systems. According to the data, 54% of companies reported they are using or plan to add AI in the future. The largest group of these respondents (20%) expect to add AI within the next 12 months.
Former GNC exec to head up auto parts retailer

Jegs Automotive Inc. has appointed a veteran marketing executive as its new chief executive. The family-owned high-performance auto parts retailer on Wednesday announced it has appointed Jeffrey Hennion as its new CEO, effective Oct. 16. Most recently, Hennion served three years at GNC Holdings, where he was executive VP, chief marketing & e-commerce officer. He resigned in June.
What Retailers Need to Know About Their Energy Bill — and How to Lower it

Energy is the fourth largest in-store operating cost for retailers, with the average 50,000-sq.-ft. retail building spending around $90,000 each year on energy costs. Retail building managers are constantly trying to better regulate their buildings’ energy costs, so understanding where those charges come from can be extremely beneficial.
Shop.org Takeaway: Three steps to next-gen personalization

Consumers are becoming more digitally influenced on a seemingly daily basis — but omnichannel retailers find themselves hard-pressed to keep up the pace. Retailers need to meet their needs across all touchpoints, and create a frictionless shopping experience despite where the shopping journey starts and ends.
Big mall owner CBL launches a rebranding campaign

Malls are not going away entirely, but the word “mall” may be an endangered concept. CBL Properties, one of the nation’s biggest mall operators, with 121 of them in 27 states, has announced a rebranding campaign that that reflects a new strategic direction focused on operating community gathering places, not mere shopping centers.
Small retailer with devoted fans is closing its doors

A New England-based retailer that has the distinction of being the first curtain catalog company is closing up shop. Shareholders of The Fitzpatrick Companies, whose subsidiaries include Country Curtains, voted Wednesday to liquidate the 61-year-old business. Country Curtains will begin liquidating operations immediately, and a going-out-of-business sale will be launched in its 19 retail stores (and website) starting on Oct. 5. The stores will close by the end of the year.