News

By Steve Dispensa, [email protected]

Escalating IT security threats and strengthening regulatory requirements have driven adoption of two-factor authentication among retailers to unprecedented levels. In an effort to stave off increasingly virulent attacks and meet PCI DSS mandates, many retailers have deployed security tokens, like RSA’s SecurID, to secure access to their corporate network and the sensitive customer and payment data it contains.

The new Target.com website went live last Tuesday just as Target News Now was hitting in-boxes with an item about the relaunch that began, “Just launch the new site already.” Well, now that the completely reengineered site is operational, it marks the company’s first step on an ambitious plan for multi-channel expansion, according to Target.com president Steve Eastman.

New Balance has brought its “Experience” format to North America, opening a 4,000-sq.-ft. space in Manhattan’s Flatiron District.

Target failed to crack a ranking of the top 10 most effective back-to-school ads compiled by Ace Metrix that was dominated by retail competitors and technology companies.

Home Depot and Lowe’s may receive a 1% bump to their third-quarter results as a result of Hurricane Irene sales, according to an analysis provided by MarketWatch. 

A variety of retail analysts weighed in on the question of whether Irene would help or hurt retail sales, given that many stores were forced to close when evacuation orders came. But the overall consensus was that before-and-after hurricane sales will benefit home improvement retailers, while negatively impacting department stores, specialty stores and any retailer relying on back-to-school sales.

America is on sale for foreign tourists thanks to the weak U.S. dollar, and it has been a boon for retailers who operate stores in key destinations. Nowhere was this phenomenon more evident than last week when Tiffany & Co. reported spectacular second quarter results that were aided by a 41% sales increase at its flagship New York store. That location is frequented by tourists, and so is the Saks flagship New York location, which reported a second quarter comp increase in the neighborhood of 15%.

From Gap and Coach to Best Buy and Starbucks, retailers across the board are looking to high-growth emerging markets to expand their business and increase revenues. Not surprisingly, China is a prime -- if not the No. 1 -- target of many retailers.

MONTVALE, N.J. — Grocer A&P officially opened on Friday its new Superfresh store, featuring a full-service pharmacy and expanded international offerings, in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood.

The 51,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood store marks A&P’s first new store in Pennsylvania in more than 10 years, and brings nearly 120 new jobs to the community.