News

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar is utilizing TAS Unity, a browser-based enterprise market knowledge system designed to aid retail real estate management from Trade Area Systems.

NEW YORK — Retailer Saks Incorporated will be closing its Saks Fifth Avenue store located in the WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., May 4.

“This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time,” said Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks.

New York -- J.C. Penney has been working with consulting firm AlixPartners, which specializes in turnarounds, for about a month, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Executives at AlixPartners are focused on cash flow management and finding ways for Penney to save money, according to the report.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — An armed robber allegedly stole sensitive electronic information on pharmacy customers from a Kmart store in Little Rock, Ark., last month, the mass merchandise retailer said.

SIDNEY, Neb. — Cabela's co-founder and chairman Richard N. Cabela will be named chairman emeritus June 5, during the company’s 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. His brother, James W. Cabela, who is vice chairman and co-founder, will be named chairman at that time.

Starbucks Coffee Company's  two-level store at the corner of Chicago's Oak and Rush Streets has a distinct Chicago feel, and reinforces the company's recycled, reclaimed and reused materials philosophy and coffee origins theme. The walls are lined with reclaimed local brick; salvaged wood from disused boxcars clads walls, ceilings and fixtures. A floor-to-ceiling diagram of the world’s coffee-growing regions, done by a local artist, is featured downstairs.

CHICAGO — Groupon has unveiled new versions of the iPhone and Android apps that helped make it a global e-commerce leader. 

Search is a critical part of Groupon’s product strategy. Most Groupon merchants make their deals available on an ongoing basis, and search allows customers to find only the deals most relevant to them in this expanded marketplace. In iPhone v.2.5 search is prominent with a clickable icon that allows customers to navigate from anywhere in the app.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. on Tuesday reported a bigger-than-expected first quarter loss on weak sales of wireless phone contracts. The company also reported that it is updating its brand and will begin remodeling select locations with a new look and feel over the next few weeks.

Joseph C. Magnacca, a former Walgreens executive who became CEO of RadioShack in February, remarked on the initial priorities and initiatives underway. Last week, he named a new chief marketing officer and a new SVP store concepts.