STORE SPACES

Report: Walmart tests new c-store concept
Walmart continues to test new store concepts. The chain has opened a 2,500-sq.-ft. convenience store, complete with a fuel station, in Rogers, Ark., at the entrance of a Wal-Mart Supercenter, The Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette reported.
Large-Format Experiential Stores Focus on the Customer Experience
At a time when many retailers might be cutting back on brick-and-mortar investments to focus more on e-commerce, a few notable ones are taking the opposite approach and launching large-format experiential stores to immerse customers in the full brand experience and offer items in each product category, from couches to dresses.

The Ins & Outs of Closeouts

Jeff Katkowsky, VP with Sachse Construction, will share his insights and experiences as part of a panel focused on overcoming obstacles during closeouts at SPECS/2017.
Target Open House closed — but just for a couple of months

Target Corp. its updating its experimental concept store in San Francisco, Target Open House, which opened in summer 2015 as a showcase for smart, “connected” home technology. In a blog on its website, Target said Open House has closed for a significant remodel project. It will reopen to the public on Friday, Feb. 10.
LinkedIn expert to lead workshop at SPECS/2017

For more than half a century, Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS conference has delivered one of the retail industry’s most important and impactful events.
Don’t Miss Out — register for SPECS 2017 now!

Connect with retail professionals involved in the planning/design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants at Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS show, March 12 -14, 2017, Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida.
Events company opens retail store

A full-service event design company is extending its brand. White Lilac has opened its first retail location, a home décor store, at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, Calif. The company specializes in large-scale parties, exclusive weddings, corporate functions, and private parties. The boutique showcases a whimsical collection of gifts, housewares, accessories, furniture, décor and more inspired by White Lilac event designs for celebrity clients, dignitaries and iconic venues.
Calvin Klein to deploy in-store phone chargers

Shoppers at select Calvin Klein stores may soon be able to charge their phones while also watching some promotional content. The specialty apparel retailer is installing complementary in-store phone charging kiosks in approximately nine stores across the United States and Canada, including New York City and Las Vegas. The kiosks, from Veloxity, will be in place just in time for Black Friday.
Nicole Beck joins H.J. Martin as project coordinator

Nicole Beck, a skilled project management specialist, has joined H.J. Martin and Son as a project coordinator within the company’s fixtures division. In that role, she oversees the installation of functional, appealing solutions for retailers.
The Clinic, Denver

Business is booming in the fast-growing business of medical and recreational cannabis. And the shops that specialize in the trade are taking their game up more than a few notches. In July, The Clinic, which operates some six stores in the Denver area and is expanding into other states, opened a flagship that shows just how much the industry has evolved from the sterile, sparsely decorated storefronts of just a couple years back.