News

Winning with experience one customer at a time
The world’s greatest golfers will gather soon in Augusta, Georgia, for the 80th annual Masters golf tournament, an event with has many similarities to the retail industry and one that serves as a source of inspiration as we look to grow the PGA TOUR Superstore.

Around every turn on the picturesque course, golfers are faced with new challenges and opportunities that require them to balance the risks and rewards of their decision-making against their ability to execute shots all while striving to prevail over a field of unmerciful competitors.
Walmart introduces hybrid loyalty program
Walmart and its financial services partners have added a loyalty component to credit, debit and prepaid card offerings that provide an extra incentive to make online purchase.

Postmates offers new monthly model

On-demand delivery provider Postmates is priming consumers for a new free delivery subscription service.

Called Postmates Plus Unlimited, the service offers users free delivery and zero service fees on any purchase more than $30 from Postmates Plus merchant partners, who include American Apparel. Postmates Plus Unlimited purchases will be accepted instantly for faster response.
Exclusive: eBay Enterprise: Retailers enter new fulfillment era

Chain Store Age recently spoke with Stefan Weitz, head of product and strategy at eBay Enterprise, about the changing nature of omnichannel retail and what it means for fulfillment strategies.

How important is it for today’s retailers to have omnichannel fulfillment capability?
PREIT Sells four non-core malls for $92.35 million

Philadelphia -- PREIT announced it has completed the sale of four additional non-core malls. This is a milestone achievement for the company that signifies the near-completion of non-core mall disposition effort with one remaining mall being marketed for sale.

Mall disposition transactions include:
• Lycoming Mall in Pennsdale, Pennsylvania, anchored by J.C. Penney, Sears, Bon-Ton and Macy's sold for $26.35 million.
Uniqlo, London

Uniqlo has completely revamped its flagship on Oxford Street in London, doubling the space from approximately 12,055 sq. ft. to 24,100 sq. ft. and adding two additional floors, along with a rooftop venue for special events.

Designed in collaboration with the retailer’s longstanding, Tokyo-based design firm, Wonderwall, the store includes such signature Uniqlo accents as LED tickers and rotating mannequins.
ComScore: This channel drives digital commerce growth

Consumers are shopping online more than ever before, and are especially fond of one particular platform to support the activity.

According to the comScore “2016 U.S. Cross-Platform Future in Focus” report from comScore, desktop and mobile digital commerce accounted for 15% of U.S. consumer spending in the fourth quarter of 2015. This was up from 12.5% the same quarter a year earlier and also represented an all-time high percentage.
This channel drives digital commerce growth

Consumers are shopping online more than ever before, and are especially fond of one particular platform to support the activity.

According to the comScore “2016 U.S. Cross-Platform Future in Focus” report from comScore, desktop and mobile digital commerce accounted for 15% of U.S. consumer spending in fourth quarter 2015. This was up from 12.5% the same quarter a year earlier and also represented an all-time high percentage.
Trader Joe's is reportedly slashing prices

A few months after Whole Foods Market and The Fresh Market initiated price-cutting strategies to lure more shoppers, Trader Joe's has apparently followed suit, according to a new report.

New data from Deutsche Bank indicates that prices on 77 similar items at a New York-based Trader Joe's store and nearby Whole Foods found that Trader Joe's was about 26% cheaper, a decrease from a similar analysis Deutsche Bank did in 2013.
Retail CEOs are most worried about…

When it comes to what keeps retail CEOs up at night, put exchange rate volatility and over-regulation at the top of the list.

That’s according to PwC’s 19th Annual Global CEO Survey, which explores top business concerns of retail and consumer product CEOs.

Of the many different political, social and economic risks businesses face, those that concern retail sector CEOs the most are over- regulation (37% are extremely concerned), exchange rate volatility (36%), an increasing tax burden (33%), and social instability (29%).