News

Big Shopping Centers in joint venture partnership with Red Development
Phoenix -- Big Shopping Centers USA and Red Development have announced a joint venture partnership to maximize market presence and performance of select U.S. retail properties in the Midwest and West. The alliance seeks to acquire established, first-tier community, lifestyle and power centers with strong tenant line-ups and sales figures that are well positioned in markets throughout the United States.
Survey: 44% of retailers used more than five mobile business apps in 2014
Reston, Va. -- Nearly one-half (44%) of retailers used more than five mobile business applications in 2014, while 82% of retailers were able to build a mobile business app in one day or less, according to the “2nd Annual Mobile Business Application Survey” of business and IT decision makers by Canvas.

Among the key survey findings:

Books-A-Million wants more summer readers

Books-A-Million is getting an early start on summer reading promotions with a giveaway tied to a popular book series.
Wal-Mart focuses on speed, innovation with SAP’s HANA technology

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has a vast and complicated corporate infrastructure, but that doesn’t stop the world’s largest retailer from pursuing fast, fact-based decisions based on technology innovation. During a keynote address at the SAP SAPPHIRE conference in Orlando, Florida, Wal-Mart CIO Karenann Terrell described Wal-Mart’s approach to decisions and data.
NRF to host first-ever 'Retail’s Night Out' in Washington

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation is NRF is hosting a night of shopping in the nation’s capital to honor retail’s entrepreneurial spirit.

The National Retail Federation’s “Retail’s Night Out” will be a celebration of Small Business Week with local merchants and national brands set up in one-night-only pop-up shops in Washington, D.C., on May 6. The event will also feature live music, local food trucks and a red carpet.
NRF hosts Retail's Night Out in D.C.

In an effort to highlight retail’s entrepreneurial spirit, NRF is hosting a night of shopping in the nation’s capital.

The National Retail Federation’s “Retail’s Night Out” will be a celebration of Small Business Week with local merchants and national brands set up in one-night-only pop-up shops in Washington, D.C., on May 6. The event will also feature live music, local food trucks and a red carpet.
Zulily launches customization-focused website

Flash sale site Zulily is making “significant progress” toward growth, accord to its CEO, and moving ahead with the launch of a redesigned website.

The company reported that revenue in the first quarter ended in March rose nearly 30%, year over year, to $306.6 million, missing consensus for $314 million, yielding EPS of a penny per share.
Ron Johnson returns with re-imagined Geek Squad

Former Apple and JCPenney executive Ron Johnson’s career has been marked by spectacular success and failure, which is why his new retail venture called Enjoy is of interest, even if it borrows heavily from a service Best Buy launched more than a decade ago.

Billed as a “a whole new way to buy and enjoy technology,” Johnson secured $30 million in funding last fall and launched the service on Wednesday in the San Francisco area and debuts May 13 in New York.
Zulily names CFO

Seattle -- Online retailer Zulily announced today that Brian Swartz has been appointed senior VP and CFO, effective June 1, 2015.

Swartz brings more than 20 years of operational and financial experience to Zulily. For the last six years, he served as senior VP and CFO of Apollo Education Group, Inc., a private-sector education company. Swartz joined Apollo from EaglePicher Incorporated, a technology and industrial products and services company, where he served as VP and corporate controller.
Zulily’s first-ever site redesign emphasizes enhanced customization and usability

Seattle -- Online retailer Zulily has launched of its first major website redesign, which will provide a more customized daily shopping experience for each of its customers.

"We are changing the way people shop by allowing customers to easily discover unique and special products every day," said Darrell Cavens, CEO of Zulily. "The site redesign is the first of several initiatives for the year that will allow us to continue to surprise and delight our customer each and every day."