STORE SPACES

Fast-fashion giant has unveiled a new freestanding store dedicated to beauty.

This special report explores some of the tactics that retailers can use to revitalize in-store experiences with a goal of increasing foot traffic and encouraging repeat visits — with a critical component being how physical retailers blend the perks of digital commerce with their physical store environments to provide the most seamless experience possible.

The holiday shopping season is upon us. For retailers, these last three months of the year signify a marathon of competitive sales strategies to increase foot traffic and maximize profits.    According to the National Retail Federation, the holiday season can represent as much as 30% of annual sales. To adapt to shifting consumer trends and meet peak season demands, stores plan to increase both hours of operation and staff onsite.  

Off-price retailers will remain among the top performers in the U.S. retail industry during the next 12 to 18 months.   That's according to a new report from Moody's Investors Service. The outlook is not as positive for department stores, which will continue to struggle as they seek to level the playing field with both off-price and online vendors.  

Adidas has opened its largest Adidas Originals location to date, a 4,966-sq.-ft. flagship in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.   The new outpost, which sits under a section of Chicago's elevated train system, is designed to reflect its surrounding. It is full of connections to the local creative community, including an original sculpture at the front of the store by Chicago artist POSE, and custom murals created by Tubsz, a South Side native that specializes in calligraffiti (a combination of calligraphy and graffiti.) 

Suistudio specializes in suits — but it's not dressing men.    Based in the Netherlands, the online women's apparel retailer is set to open its first U.S. store at the end of October, in New York City. The merchandise mix will emphasize no-fuss silhouettes that promise an "impeccable" fit and put a modern twist on the notion of power suiting — with in-store, while-you-wait tailoring available. In addition to suits, the mix includes shirts, dresses, and evening wear.   

Energy is the fourth largest in-store operating cost for retailers, with the average 50,000-sq.-ft. retail building spending around $90,000 each year on energy costs. Retail building managers are constantly trying to better regulate their buildings’ energy costs, so understanding where those charges come from can be extremely beneficial.   

A new women's apparel store has made its debut in Chicago.    Marcus Lemonis Fashion Group, which is owned by Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC hit reality series “The Profit,” CEO of Camping World and all-around retail entrepreneur, has opened Marcus, on Chicago's Gold Coast. Additional locations are expected to open within the next six months in Aspen, Col.; Hinsdale, Ill., and New York City.