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Dishonest employees and shoplifters pushed shrink rates to record levels and earned the United States the distinction of leading the world in the least desirable of retail metrics.

According to retailers surveyed for the Global Retail Theft Barometer, shrink rose in the U.S. from 1.28% of sales in 2013-2014 to 1.97% during 2014-2015. Globally, this compares to 1.42% , a figure also up from the previous .94% average of all common retailers surveyed the previous year.

Office Depot and Best Buy are intense competitors in many categories, but that didn’t stop the former from recognizing the latter’s sustainable purchasing practices.

Office Depot recently held its Eighth Annual Leadership in Greener Purchasing Awards ceremony in Denver alongside the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace Conference & Expo.

Over the past 15 years or so, fast-fashion has evolved from a trend to a phenomenon to an industry standard, one that has largely redefined the U.S. apparel retailing landscape.

From home-grown Forever 21 to Swedish import H&M, the market is awash in stores offering cheap, on-trend clothes at low prices. Most recently another import entered the mix, Primark, which opened its first U.S. store in September, in Boston, the first of eight announced locations.

Jordan’s Furniture, known for its larger-than-life stores that combine retail with all manner of entertainment, is outdoing itself in its next location. The retailer is building a 192,500-sq.-ft. store in New Haven, Connecticut — its first in the state — that will feature a massive indoor rope course, billed as “IT Adventure Ropes Course,” that includes two 60-ft. high ropes courses. Jordan’s is devoting 20,000 sq. ft. to the attraction.

Jordan’s Furniture, known for its larger-than-life stores that combine retail with all manner of entertainment, is outdoing itself in its next location. 

The retailer is building a 192,500 sq.-ft. store in New Haven, Connecticut—its first in the state—that will feature a massive indoor roap course, billed as  “IT Adventure Roaps Course,” that includes two 60-feet high ropes courses.  Jordan’s is devoting 20,000 sq. ft. to the attraction.