News

New looks, new formats
With the physical store now widely acknowledged as a critical touchpoint in a customer’s omnichannel shopping journey, many retailers spent the summer opening new prototypes and formats.

Here are three that are still generating buzz:

Sephora

Sephora’s new outpost on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue makes buying makeup and other beauty products an interactive experience.
Placemaking, Steve Wynn style
Founded by Don and Barbara Brinkerhoff nearly a half century ago, Lifescapes International made its bones as an architectural landscaping firm on the Vegas Strip, where it created the fire show at The Mirage and the water show at the Bellagio. What the founding couple learned in Vegas, their daughter, Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, now applies to retail and lifestyle centers like Triple Five’s American Dream and Rockefeller Center’s Channel Gardens.

Ascena Retail restructures; some execs to leave

Ascena Retail Group, whose brands include Ann Taylor, Justice, and Lane Bryant, announced organizational changes expected to provide cost-savings of $100 million to $150 million by fiscal 2019. The changes will see a number of executives leave the company, although Ascena did not disclose who would be leave. Also, Brian Lynch, CEO and president of Justice, has been appointed company COO.
UGG makes a loyalty play

UGG is driving a new level of engagement with loyal shoppers. Starting today, shoppers nationwide are invited to join UGG Rewards, a loyalty program that awards shoppers with points for every purchase. The program, which was launched as a pilot among a limited customer base between September 2015 and June 2016, is now available to shoppers in-store and online throughout the United States.
Target, Manhattan
New year will bring new CEO to VF Corp.

VF. Corp., whose brands include The North Face, Timberland and Nautica, will have a new chief executive come January. The company announced that president and COO Steven E. Rendle will become CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2017. Rendle, 57, will succeed Eric C. Wiseman, who will continue to serve as executive chairman and work with Rendle to ensure a successful transition. Rendle has more than 30 years of experience in the specialty outdoor and action sports industry, 16 of which have been with VF.
Kohl’s enters the mobile payments game

Kohl’s Corp. has joined the ranks of Walmart, Starbucks and other companies to offer its own mobile payments app. The retailer launched Kohl’s Pay on Wednesday, hoping to speed up checkout in its stores. Using the app, shoppers can integrate their Kohl’s private label credit card and their Yes2You Rewards member number directly in the app’s mobile wallet. The technology also saves earned Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards.
Sears exec joins Claire’s

There is a new finance chief at Claire’s Stores. The retailer has appointed Scott Huckins as its executive VP and CFO, effective Oct. 5. He joins Claire's from Sears Holdings where he served as VP, treasurer and president for Sears Re, (a wholly owned captive reinsurance company) for the last four years. In that role, he had responsibility for global treasury, capital markets, credit, risk management and reinsurance for the company.
Grocer in online turkey move for Thanksgiving

At a time when grocers are seeking ways to differentiate their e-commerce model, Natural Grocers is making a bold move just in time for Thanksgiving. As an increasing number of shoppers are using online resources to make more informed decisions before making a purchase, Natural Grocers is launching an e-commerce service that enables shoppers to research and order their holiday turkey, and pick it up at their preferred store.
Giant Eagle merges transportation ops

Simplicity is the name of the game for Giant Eagle’s new transportation endeavors. It’s first step in this quest was to add a new transportation management system — a single platform designed to manage inbound and outbound transportation systems. Processes that were originally controlled by five systems are now streamlined through one core infrastructure. This new consolidated platform is also only piece within a much larger project: building a next-generation supply chain.