Retail Stores

Consumer expectations are at an all-time high, continuing to mandate how shoppers want to be serviced and treated. The question is, how do consumers react when companies fall short in delivering the expected level of customer experience?

Faced with tough budgeting decisions, consumers have put Father’s Day on the back burner for years, but this year Americans seem intent on showering dad with their appreciation. According to the National Retail Federation's Consumer Intentions and Actions Father’s Day survey, conducted by BIGresearch, Americans will shell out an average of $106.49 on dad, up from $94.32 last year and the most in the survey’s eight-year history.

Backed by an improving economy, a recent surge in jobs and 10 consecutive months of rising retail sales, a broad range of retailers are poised to fill up empty retail spaces over the next 12 months to 18 months, according to Colliers International.  

Barneys New York, the luxury specialty retailer, announced today that its e-commerce website, Barneys.com, has introduced international shipping to 90 countries including Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia and China.

Continuing with its global expansion strategy, Gap announced plans to open its first store in an outlet center in Italy: a Gap store at the Vicolungo Outlet Center near Milan.

Stevie Koerner sells silver pendants on Etsy. The pendants come in the shapes of states with little heart-shaped cutouts. Cute, right? But maybe too cute, because the pendants caught the eye of Urban Outfitters, which now sells pendants in the shapes of states with little heart-shaped cutouts too. 

In what's pretty much an unprecedented move by any major retailer, Old Navy is releasing a line of gay pride T-shirts this summer. The designs will be sold in all 1,035 Old Navy locations, which means that teens, moms and families across the country will encounter the shirts in malls, practically the modern equivalent of the town square.

Ash, one of the fastest-growing contemporary shoe and accessories brands, has made its way to America. The first U.S. Ash store location opened in New York City's SoHo district at 44 Mercer Street.

The Disney Store announced plans to open its interactive concept stores in more than 40 locations in 2011. Building on the successful launch of the innovative design in 2010 and fueled by demand from retail property owners eager to bring the one-of-a-kind shopping destination to their centers, Disney Store will continue to expand its presence across the world.

Economists urged "extreme caution" about reading too much into a strong rebound in retail sales last month, as chains were boosted by the hottest April on record, a glut of bank holidays and the Royal Wedding.