News

Salt Lake City -- PECO Net Lease Income Fund (NLIF) has acquired four properties including two Family Dollar stores in New Mexico and two Raising Cane's restaurants, including one in Lexington, Ky., and one in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

New York -- Shoppers in the United States are most likely to combine online and in-person sources when buying consumer electronics (70%), toys (66%), apparel (58%), and home appliances (57%), according to a new study by Gfk. At the low end of the omnichannel spectrum in the United States are cleaning products (14%), OTC medications (15%), and food and beverages (15%).

The study shows that, across 12 categories, 37% of U.S. shoppers – and 29% globally – are turning to both online and in-store shopping when making purchases.

By Pascale Juan, I Love Velvet

As the payments industry moves at lightning speed and technology changes rapidly, it can be a challenge to keep pace with the security payments and standards of the mobile payments industry. In addition, one of the most frustrating areas of mobile security is the challenge of navigating global security requirements. As a global brand, using mobile point-of-sale (MPOS) requires compliance with the differing security certifications and methods in various countries.

Leading food company ConAgra is out with its 2013 Citizenship Report detailing progress on a three-pronged citizenship platform of, “good for you, good for the community and good for the planet.”

The report is intended to show how the company is doing good through food while delivering growth for shareholders and is available here.

Leading “As Seen on TV” product producer TeleBrands took Marketer of the Year honors at the recent Electronic Retailing Association’s annual Moxie Awards.
In addition to top marketer accolades, the company’s Pocket Hose product was recognized as Best Short Form Infomercial.

Atif Rafiq was named to the newly created position of chief digital officer at McDonald’s after previously serving as general manager of Kindle Direct Publishing at Amazon.

In his new role, Rafiq will lead McDonald's global digital strategy focusing on future growth in e-commerce, modernizing the restaurant experience and engaging with consumers across the digital landscape. Rafiq will report to chief brand officer Steve Easterbrook.

Dick’s Sporting Goods 2013 store expansion efforts are winding down, but not before the retailer opens a new unit next week in Albuquerque, N.M., and mixed martial artist Carlos Condit participates in grand opening festivities.

SAN FRANCISCO — Beauty retailer Sephora has launched Sephora University Beauty Classes, a new program designed to help beauty lovers of all ages and abilities master everything from building a skin care routine to creating the perfect smoky eye.

Now available in more than 60 stores throughout the United States, these complimentary classes are the newest way in which Sephora is striving to further enhance the client experience.

The 2014 International CES will feature a new exhibit area called “FashionWare,” focused on the latest innovation in wearable technology, event organizers announced.

Scheduled for January 7-10 in Las Vegas, the CES show, the timing is right for the FashionWare concept because the worlds of apparel, accessories and technology are becoming integrated, so much so in fact that event organizers are planning a wearable technology fashion show.

A recent string of media reports has focused on major retailers that track customers who return merchandise. While the plaintiffs’ bar and the media are seeking to transform return monitoring into a headline-grabbing consumer privacy issue, the practice is hardly new, it is certainly justified as an anti-fraud measure and any litigation or compliance risk should be mitigated by appropriate disclosures.