Retail Stores

Target, Others to Bid on Toys"R"Us Stores
March 30, 2018 at 11:50 am

Several Toys"R"Us stores are scheduled to be auctioned off later this week, according to court documents filed Tuesday that were reviewed by CNBC. Of the 58 "qualified bids" being considered, Target and Aldi both are looking at one location in Kendall, Florida, which is near a handful of college campuses. Big Lots is bidding on five…

Retail Isn’t Dead, Mediocre Retail is Dead
March 30, 2018 at 9:31 am

In a new era of retailing, the context of customer service has been transformed toward the emotional behavior of the shopper. Although many consumers have been changing the way they shop toward a more online-centered experience, brick-and-mortar retailers still have the opportunity to refocus and reimagine to continue to bring customers through their doors. As…

Consumers’ Favorite Fashion Retailers … and How They Got There
March 28, 2018 at 12:08 pm

In today’s retail landscape, brands must work harder than ever to attract and retain customers. No longer is the only competition across the mall, but it’s also lurking in all corners of the internet. Retailers spend good money to market, promote and advertise themselves to lure shoppers in-store, but if the customer experience falls short…

Starbucks Tests New Wi-Fi Sign-Up Process at U.S. Stores
March 26, 2018 at 3:17 pm

Starbucks is testing a new Wi-Fi login process in its U.S. stores, asking customers to provide their email address before connecting, Geekwire has reported. Since rolling out free Wi-Fi in its U.S. stores nearly eight years ago, Starbucks has asked customers to simply accept terms and conditions in order to connect to its public network…

Michaels to Close Nearly All Aaron Brothers Stores
March 23, 2018 at 12:46 pm

Michaels Companies Inc will shut down 94 Aaron Brothers framing and art supplies stores, the largest U.S. crafts retailer said on Thursday. The arts and crafts retailer plans to make Aaron Brothers a store-within-a-store and to provide custom framing in all Michaels stores. Michaels owns and operates about 1,300 stores in the United States and…

The ‘Retail Apocalypse’ is Ragnarök, Not End of Days
March 21, 2018 at 7:15 pm

Every day there are claims made in the media across the world that physical retail is heading toward a final and irreversible apocalypse. And yet, we’re also seeing some of the most innovative and customer-friendly reinterpretation of the retail experience that has ever existed. So clearly, the reports of retail’s total demise have been greatly exaggerated. Rather than…

Amazon Considering Buying Some Empty Toys"R"Us Stores
March 21, 2018 at 2:42 pm

Amazon.com is reportedly considering taking over some of the newly vacant Toys“R”Us storefronts. Fortune reports this week the online retail giant is looking at the possibility of acquiring some Toys"R"Us locations as it expands its brick-and-mortar footprint across the country. The stores would reportedly be used to showcase Amazon's Echo line of devices. Amazon has invested recently…

FedEx to Open Small-Format Shops in 500 Walmart Stores
March 20, 2018 at 3:02 pm

FedEx Office, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., and Walmart said yesterday that FedEx Office will bring its small-format stores for printing, packing and shipping into 500 of Walmart's stores nationwide in the next 24 months. The announcement comes after completion of a successful pilot program spanning 47 locations within Walmart stores across six states. Besides…

Choice the Driver of Macy's Transformation Strategy
March 19, 2018 at 5:28 pm

In a keynote presentation yesterday at the Shoptalk conference in Las Vegas, Jeff Gennette, CEO of Macy's, detailed the department store chain's transformation strategy as it looks to rebound from a couple of rough years. At the center of Macy's transformation: giving consumers choice. Gennette opened his presentation by rattling off some impressive stats regarding…

Claire's Files for Bankruptcy
March 19, 2018 at 1:43 pm

As forecast, girl's accessories retailer Claire’s Stores announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware. Claire’s, which is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC , said it plans to emerge from Chapter 11 in September with more than $150 million of liquidity and…