News

The Holiday Frenzy is Upon Us … Tips to Get Prepared
After a 16% increase in e-commerce sales in 2014, another 14% increase is projected this year, in turn driving greater customer expectations.* Today’s shopper is more connected than ever before, which means they have more information and can turn to any number of retailers for the products they want. The bottom line is if they don’t have the experience they desire, they will go elsewhere, especially during the holiday shopping frenzy.
PGA Tour beats par for mobile payment
As an organizer of professional golf tournaments, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida-based PGA Tour may not jump to mind as a retailer. But PGA Tour operates a full-service café at its headquarters and also occasionally offers pop-up cafes at tournament events.

Here comes Conn’s, 100th store in sight

The growth aspirations of Conn’s were revealed in the span of a few days recently when, with a new CEO at the helm, it entered the Georgia market and increased its presence in Colorado.
Smart & Final to open 100-plus stores in four years

Smart & Final celebrated the one year anniversary of its public stock offering by telling investors a growth story about differentiation and new store expansion.

Smart & Final, a uniquely positioned operator of 266 warehouse style stores, has plans to open 100 new stores in the Western United States during the next four years. CEO Dave Hirz dropped that bombshell while he and other senior members of the company were at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell to commemorate the one year anniversary of the company’s listing.
Running Specialty Group to unify all stores under one brand

The Running Specialty Group is uniting its various store banners under one of its newest brands: JackRabbit.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Mobility Matters in the Material World

There’s no time like face time. Whether closing a multi-million dollar business deal or selling discount apparel, nothing moves the needle like human engagement. And although modern POS solutions have been revolutionary in integrating inventory, customer data, omnichannel sales, and a slew of other retail success factors, large cash-wraps have driven a physical wedge between merchant and customer.
Restaurants and entertainment venue to join Downtown Dallas development

Dallas -- Trademark Property Co. announced that BuzzBrews,’ Cinépolis USA and Café Victoria will join Victory Park, a 75-acre mixed-use development in downtown Dallas. BuzzBrews’ and Café Victoria to open in early 2016 and Cinépolis USA, targeted for 2017.
Athletic footwear sales were soft this summer

With nearly 1,100 stores in malls nationwide, it appears that 2015 was not the summer of the sneaker for Finish Line.

The retailer reported weaker-than-expected sales for its second quarter ended Aug. 29. The results weren’t awful, with sales advancing 3.5% to $483.2 million and same-store sales up 1.5%. However, gas prices were in free fall for much of the year and the unemployment rate was in decline, which should have left Finish Line’s core customer with money in their pockets and no reason to not drive to the mall.
What’s next? CART helps retailers find the answer

A new marketplace has launched with the goal of helping retailers and suppliers keep up with the blistering pace of innovation that is transforming their world.
Supermarkets for sale in western U.S.

The bankrupt Haggen supermarket chain has listed 111 locations for sale, many in California, as the company looks to refocus its operations on 37 stores in the Pacific Northwest.