News

Conn’s makes three new executive appointments
Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service. The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017. Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.
Convenience store chain on the move in Florida
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.

Supermarket giant upgrades wireless network with Verizon

Ahold USA can now boost it has “smarter stores” for its increasingly connected consumers. The supermarket giant has rolled out a new wireless platform from Verizon Enterprise Solutions across its divisions, which include Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover, and Giant Carlisle, The platform has resulted in a digitally rich in-store experience for the grocer’s smartphone-using shoppers.
Visa: Holiday spending strongest in five years

Holiday sales not only beat expectations among industry observers, it hit a five-year high. Retail sales grew by 4.8% through the holiday season, as compared to the same period in 2015 — and November and December spending growth is the strongest it’s been in five years, according to a new report from Visa. “The Visa Retail Spending Monitor” tracks retail sales, with the exception of autos, gas, and restaurants, among retail goods, services and stores on Visa payment products.
Report: Mobility driving unified commerce

Retailers finally understand that the always-connected consumer expects a personalized, seamless experience wherever, whenever and however she shops. This, coupled with the proliferation of mobile devices, are the catalysts driving the new retail paradigm called unified commerce, according to “2017 POS/Customer Engagement Benchmarking Survey,” from Boston Retail Partners (BRP).
European office supplies retailer drives customer conversions

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.
Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City

Saks has given over the 14 storefront windows of its Fifth Avenue flagship to United Airlines to help promote United’s new Polaris business class cabin. (Saks is providing the bedding for United Polaris.) The windows are designed to give passersby the feeling that they are actually walking through the luxurious Polaris cabin. And just in time for resort season, the mannequins that are in some of the windows are decked out in the latest spring fashions.
Amazon promises to put 100,000 Americans to work by mid-2018

Move over Alibaba — Amazon has a new jobs plan too, one with more details and a more immediate window of opportunity.
Amazon poaches Target exec for Prime expansion

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.
Ohio regional mall sells for $31.5 million

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.