STORE SPACES

Graham’s sparkles with help from Amerlux
Dubuque, Iowa — A family-owned, fourth-generation fashion retailer located in Dubuque, Iowa, is using state-of-the-art LED lighting.

Graham's Style Store has updated its ambience and added a big dash of sparkle with the help of new lighting from Amerlux.

"Our clothes didn't change, our lighting did," explained Ben Graham of Graham's Style Store. "We redesigned Graham's to entice a whole new generation.”
Cold Stone to heat up subcontinent ice cream market
Scottsdale, Ariz. - Cold Stone Creamery is planning to heat up the ice cream market in the Indian subcontinent. The retailer is entering India and Sri Lanka.

Kahala Brands, the parent company of the Cold Stone Creamery brand, is partnering with Tablez Food Company, part of Lulu Group International LLC, to open 40 stores in India and five stores in Sri Lanka during the next five years. The first store will open by the end of the year at the Lulu Mall in Kochi, India.

Take a look: Target comes to Boston’s Fenway neighborhood

Boston – A three-level CityTarget store is a main feature of a new $315 million mixed-use development on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. The Samuels & Associates development also includes a 172-unit luxury apartment building and adjoining 11-story office tower.

Read more.
Tech Bytes: Three Reasons the Store Remains Crucial in a Digital Age

Chain Store Age recently published a list of the top 10 most-read stories of the first half of 2015, and eight are directly focused on brick-and-mortar stores. This is no great surprise because even as retail and society and general enter a true “Digital Age,” physical stores remain as crucial as they were in the pre-industrial era.

Here are three reasons that brick-and-mortar stores are still a vital part of any retailer’s omnichannel strategy.
Ikea goes greener in Canada

Burlington, Ontario -- Ikea Canada announced the national rollout of electric vehicle charging stations at each of its 12 stores across Canada.

The rollout, set to be completed by late August of this year, is the first national installation of EV charging stations in Canada by a retailer at all of its locations.
Born to run? Visit this store in India

Bengalaru, India – Bruce Springsteen fans will be delighted by the new store Nike Inc. is opening in Bengalaru, India. Aimed at customers who are “born to run,” the 7,355-sq.-ft., three-level store, Nike’s largest in India, places a special emphasis on the sport of running.
Tumi stores “pop” with LEDs from Solais

New York -- High-end luggage and accessories Tumi has selected LED lamps from Solais Lighting, a division of PowerSecure International, has its lighting product of record. Tumi has specified Solais’ Xi20 and Xi24 PAR LEDs featuring the company’s VioLight color-enhancing technology.

Tumi recently installed the LEDs in its store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center.
How Indoor Positioning Services Using LEDs Benefit Shoppers and Retailers

A harried mother in the baking aisle can’t find lemongrass spice. A teenager in the junior department can’t decide which T-shirt to buy. A family in sporting goods is disappointed that the tent for their camping trip appears to be out of stock.
Best Buy reveals latest in-store shop concept

Minneapolis – Best Buy is putting a spotlight on the way technology is impacting home appliances.

The retailer is partnering with Samsung on a new in-store concept, “Samsung Open House,” a 20-sq.-ft. area inside Best Buy stores that feature the largest dedicated in-store branded display of Samsung appliances anywhere.
Five Ways Mobile Can Differentiate the Store Experience

It’s no secret that the rise of mobile devices is empowering consumers and altering the way they shop. But mobile isn’t just changing the game for consumers. It’s also empowering chain stores to take advantage of those behavior changes to strengthen customer relationships and distinguish the in-store experience.

Here are five simple ways that chain stores can take advantage of mobile devices like tablets to enhance and differentiate the in-store experience and drive sales: