News

Survey: Holiday texts pay off for brick-and-mortar retailers
Instead of sending holiday cards, retailers with physical stores may want to send texts, instead.

According to the new seventh Annual Holiday Research Study from e-commerce technology platform MarketLive, 78% of shoppers are likely to visit a store as a result of a text promotion or alert via mobile device.

In addition, 56% of shoppers look for gift ideas on social sites like Pinterest, and 55% are now comfortable with sharing their preferences with retailers in exchange for convenience and personalized product recommendations
Whole Foods plans to be faster and more efficient
Whole Foods is creating a new collection of business applications with a key technology partner that are said to be unlike anything on the market.

That’s a bold claim and to back it up the nation’s leading organic and natural grocery chain is partnering with cloud-based business application provider Infor to develop a new enterprise platform called Infor Cloudsuite Retail.

8 companies inventing the future of retail

Eight start-up companies comprising the inaugural class of the newly formed XRC Labs accelerator are looking to have a big impact on the retail industry.

New York-based XRC Labs unveiled the inaugural class of start-up companies participating in its 10-week accelerator program Tuesday evening, Oct. 13 at an event near its headquarters at the Parsons Schools of Design.
Staples board limits senior exec severance packages

Staples is limiting the severance pay of top executives as the resolution of a deal with Office Depot draws near.

Staples announced that its board of directors has adopted a new policy stipulating that the company will not pay any severance benefits that exceed three times the sum of an executive’s base salary plus target annual cash incentive award, without seeking shareholder approval.

In addition, CEO Ron Sargent has elected to amend his severance agreement to align with the terms of the new policy.
Top retail CMOs to be honored

Top marketers at Neiman Marcus and Home depot were among a group of marketing executives recognized by the CMO Club this week.

The CMO Club, established to celebrate the marketing industry's brightest leaders and to provide a forum to share their successes with other CMOs, determined four winners in various categories.
DlC Management Corp. announces September leasing deals

Tarrytown, N.Y. -- DLC Management Corporation announced the company signed 27,684 sq. ft. of new leases in September across five states: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The leases include tenants Carter’s, Creations Barber Shop, Five Below, Great Clips, Jude’s Carryout, Lucky Duck, Nail Bless, New Dragon Restaurant, Quick-N-Clean Cleaners and The Village Bar & Restaurant, ranging from 972 sq. ft. to 8,000 sq. ft.
Couche-Tard to buy 18 stores in Texas as CFO suddenly resigns

One of the world’s largest C-store operators is searching for a new CFO as the company expands its reach in the southern United States with a deal to buy 18 convenience stores operating under the Texas Star brand.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. announced that Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Raymond Paré has resigned. It also announced a deal to acquire 18 convenience stores in the Souhwest, which will be converted to the Circle K brand and will continue to sell Shell and CITGO-branded fuel. The deal is expected to close by next April.
ICSC predicts a long and strong holiday shopping season

More Americans are planning holiday-related purchases this year than in 2014, and those who plan to shop will spend more over a longer period of time.

That’s according to the International Council of Shopping Centers 2015 Consumer Forecast, which shows that 90% of Americans are planning holiday purchases this season, up from 82% last year. And overall, 80% of shoppers plan to spend the same or more this holiday season than they did in 2014.
New insights on how to outperform the market

A new report from Nielsen offers concrete evidence that brands really can do well by doing good.

A landmark global report from Nielsen show that brands that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability grow faster than those that don’t. According to the 2015 Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report, in the past year, sales of consumer goods from brands with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability have grown more than 4% globally, while those without grew less than 1%.
Dominos turns quality focus on store network

Domino’s Pizza is not satisfied with just improving the quality of its pizza.

A few years after a successful marketing campaign where it focused on making a better pizza, Domino’s is now focusing on making a better store network.