STORE SPACES

Miami -- Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola (CCImola) announced that it is the first Italian ceramic tile manufacturer to be awarded the Authorized Economic Operator Full (AEOF) certificate, a certification issued by the European Union and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The AEOF certificate, a voluntary process, has important benefits in conducting business overseas, and ensures that CCImola is following specific customs procedures efficiently, complying with new security requirements, and conducting business with safety first and foremost.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers has reduced its energy consumption since 2010 by 3.4 million kilowatt-hours. The installation of networked lighting controls at 48 shopping centers, combined with the use of LED lighting and more efficient HID lamps, accounts for the majority of these savings.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has announced expansion plans for Portland, Ore., Minneapolis-St. Paul and Orlando, Fla.

The targeted expansion calls for 18 new locations in Minneapolis-St. Paul, 18 in Orlando and 11 in Portland. Corner Bakery Cafe is currently evaluating potential franchisees for each market.

Minneapolis -- Target announced plans to open a store in Staten Island, N.Y., in July 2013. The 150,000-sq.-ft. store will be located at the Richmond Shopping Center.

In addition, Target said it will open its second CityTarget store in the city of San Francisco, in October 2013. The new, 119,000-sq.-ft. CityTarget will be located at the southwest corner of Geary and Masonic Streets. On Oct. 10, the retailer opened the doors to the city’s first-ever Target store, also a CityTarget, at the Metreon.

New York -- More and more retailers are using digital technology to enhance the physical store experience and engage customers. In the latest example, Adidas has taken window shopping to a new level with an interactive digital window concept that connects with consumers’ smartphones, making it easy to shop at any time without an app or scanning various QR codes. Consumers shopping for the latest fashion items are using time during a six-week pilot test at the Adidas NEO Label store-front in Nürnberg, Germany.

By Mark J. Rowell, president, Mammoth Media

Supermarkets, apparel chains and other retail outlets need clear signage with messaging that is sharply and professionally printed to draw in customers.

Dallas -- Davaco announced that the company offers shop-in-shop solutions for soft and hard-line brands that are implementing nationwide programs involving new or existing shops within department or big box stores. Davaco provides clients with a fully integrated approach to shop-in-shop rollouts that can include fixture manufacturing, site surveys, logistics/consolidation, as well as installation and merchandising after installation.
 

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s top award, the “Galaxy” Star of Energy Efficiency.