News

Consumers want social connection with retailers
San Diego – Consumers are using social media to connect not just with high school classmates and former flames, but with retailers. According to Interactions’ latest Retail Perceptions report, “Social Media: Invest to Impress?”, more than 75% of social media users expect retailers to have a social media presence, and 42% prefer to shop at retailers that connect with them through social media.
GNC has weak Q1
Pittsburgh – GNC Holdings Inc. demonstrated some weakness during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 with shrinking profit and revenue. Net income dropped 9% to $63.27 million from $69.9 million a year earlier, driven by rising selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses.

Net revenue fell slightly to $670.25 million from $674.46 million. Same-store sales decreased 4.1% in domestic company-owned stores (including GNC.com sales). In domestic franchise locations, same-store sales decreased 1.5%.

Lowe's introduces 3D printing at Orchard Supply

Lowe's Innovation Labs has come up with a way to allow shoppers to customize every knob, door and handle in their home.
Solution Center Highlights

The newest products and services from suppliers in store planning and design, construction and facility management were on display in the SPECS 2015 Solutions Center.

The exhibit floor provided the retailers and other specifiers at the show with a wide range of solutions, from lighting, signage and flooring options to maintenance and HVAC providers to energy management and construction services.
AZALEA BLOSSOMS

Another opening in 2014 made plenty of headlines. Azalea Regional Shopping Center, opened in August by PrimeStor Development in South Gate, California, houses the new branded concept by Forever 21: F21 red, which offers an increased depth of product at a significantly lower price point. The Azalea store, which opened in May, was the brand’s debut; three other F21 red stores have since opened in New York and Minnesota.

Azalea Regional Shopping Center has plenty to shout about on its own. The 32-acre, Los Angeles County-area project grew out of a vacant site and delivers 400,000 sq.
EMV Deadline Approaching

The upcoming Oct. 1, 2015, mandate for U.S. retailers to adopt POS systems that can securely accept and process transactions using EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa)-compliant, chip-based payment cards is fast approaching. Retailers that are not in compliance with the mandate after that date will be held liable for any fraudulent transaction committed with a chip-based card.
North Face enhancing in-store experience with virtual reality

New York -- Outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear retailer The North Face has collaborated with Jaunt, which provides virtual reality (VF) hardware and software, on an immersive VR in-store experience designed to boost customers’ connection to the outdoors.

The attraction arrived in select North Face locations beginning in March in Chicago, and is now being rolled out to the company’s store in Manhattan. It transports viewers to Yosemite National Park and Moab, Utah, alongside North Face global athletes Cedar Wright and Sam Elias.
Session Spotlight: Roofing

The differences in available roof materials, insulation and installation took center stage at the SPECS session, “Under Roof: Advanced Roofing Design, Practices and Management A to Z.”

The speakers, Richard Justinn and Thomas J Taylor, from GAF Materials, also discussed roofing trends and strategies for selecting the right manufacturer and contractor.

In choosing a manufacturer, the speakers said the considerations should include:
GIVE ME LIBERTY

Liberty Center is Greater Cincinnati’s something-for-everyone development

There are mixed-use developments, town centers, and then there are PLACES, and Liberty Center is being designed to be just that when it brings 1.2 million sq. ft. of retail, restaurant, offices, residences, a hotel and three parks — including one inside the enclosed mall — to a young and affluent area of North Cincinnati.

Liberty Center, opening Oct.
AN INTIMATE OCCASION

David’s Bridal gets personal with advanced digital analytics

There are few events more personal in a woman’s life than her wedding.