News

First Look: Target’s new 'Connected Living' in-store pilot
Target Corp. is testing some of the concepts from its innovative Open House format in San Francisco in a traditional store setting. The discounter has debuted Connected Living, an in-store experience dedicated to showing customers how connected products can work together to make life easier, more convenient and more efficient. The test is taking place in Target’s Ridgedale location in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Grocer files amendment for possible spin-off
Supervalu has moved closer to spinning off its discount grocery store division.

The supermarket operator filed Amendment No. 1 to its Form 10 Registration Statement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the anticipated spin-off of its Save-A-Lot business into a separate, publicly traded company.

Quality Solutions changes name to QSI Facilities

Quality Solutions, Colwich, Kansas, a leading provider of facilities maintenance and constructions services, has changed its name to QSI Facilities. The company has also launched a new website and introduced a new approach for overcoming “value leakage” in outsourced facilities services.
Good news for premium malls, lifestyle centers

High-quality malls and lifestyle centers are best positioned to capitalize on the shift toward experience-based spending. That’s according to a new study by the research arm of MetLife Investment Management (MIM), which finds that millennials’ preference for acquiring experiences and memories over material goods will play a significant role in determining which retail formats will outperform in the future.
Will this be the next big store brand from Williams Sonoma?

A retailer that specializes in reproductions of classic lighting products and house parts is quietly expanding under the ownership of Williams-Sonoma.
Wayfair brings products into consumers’ home — virtually

Customers of Wayfair Inc. no longer have to guess how items will look in their own personal spaces.

The online home furnishings and decor retailer has launched WayfairView, its new augmented reality (AR) smartphone application. Developed by Wayfair Next, the company’s in-house research and development team, the app, using Google technology, allows shoppers to visualize furniture and décor in their homes at full-scale before they make a purchase.
Q&A at RECon 2016 - Bayer
Restoration Hardware misses Street in tough Q1

Specialty home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. (RH) had what could be termed a messy start to the fiscal year.

RH swung to a net loss of $13.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to net earnings of $7.2 million the prior year period, falling short of Wall Street expectations. Revenue grew 8% to $455.5 million from $422.4 million, but also missed projections. Increases in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative (S,G&A) expenses helped push the retailer into the red despite improving sales.
Christopher & Banks shows improvement in Q1; will shuffle store mix

Specialty apparel retailer Christopher & Banks Corp. is not out of the red, but headed in the right direction during the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

The company reported net loss of $0.2 million, down from a net loss of $1.4 million the same quarter the previous fiscal year. Improved gross margin helped shrink the loss. Net sales totaled $100 million, an increase of 9%, compared to $91.6 million.
Walgreens shuffles executive ranks

Walgreens Boots Alliance is making a number of changes to its senior management roles and responsibilities as part of what the company is calling the “next phase of evolution.”

Alex Gourlay, executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens, and Ornella Barra, executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president and chief executive of global wholesale and international retail, have been appointed to the role of co-CEOs.