Retailers can weather economy by focusing on basics

Trusted brands and an enlarged pool of skilled workers provide leverage.

REI prototype wins sustainable design award

July 5, 2009

GreenBiz: Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) opened a new store in Round Rock, Texas, last year that tested several retail design and green building concepts.

Putting empty storefronts to good use

July 1, 2009

BrandWeek: Empty storefronts are a growing retail reality, but Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines recently transformed the economic downturn into a…

What recession? Retailers still spending on store maintenance, upgrades

June 28, 2009

Building Design & Construction: Not all is bleak on the retail construction scene. Though most retailers have scaled back their new store development plans…

New, smaller Meijer concept coming to Chicago

June 28, 2009

Display & Design Ideas: Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter chain Meijer plans to open a new smaller-format, grocery-focused store in the Chicago suburb…

Nokia enhances retail experience in the UAE with new stores

June 21, 2009

Albawaba.com: Nokia announced the expansion of its Nokia Franchise Stores with the addition of its 5th Nokia Store in the UAE at Bawadi Mall, Al Ain. Designed…

Gap to remodel 50 Old Navy stores, open 40 more

June 11, 2009

Reuters: Gap Inc., which operates the Banana Republic, Old Navy and its namesake chains, said it plans to remodel about 50 Old Navy stores in 2009 and open…

Best Buy announces new stores with interactive displays

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

June 9, 2009

Best Buy announced 13 new store openings for its second fiscal quarter, the first of which opens in Alaska this Saturday.

Three specialty stores that stand out from the pack

When times are tight, experience counts more than ever. Here are three small retailers with singular in-store experiences.

Canadian Tire wins store design award

June 3, 2009

TORONTO — Earlier this week, Canadian Tire was awarded the Retail Council of Canada's 2009 Excellence in Retailing Award for "Retail Store Design for a Large…

Callison acquires RYA Design Consultancy

June 1, 2009

NEW YORK — Callison LLC has acquired RYA Design Consultancy, a US-based architecture and design firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas and with an office in New…

Is Amazon considering bricks-and-mortar?

May 26, 2009

Tech Flash: Is e-commerce giant Amazon.com getting into the brick-and-mortar retail business? The online retailer was granted a patent on Tuesday for a…

Witron system aims to fully automate shelf replenishment

by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

The experimental SRS concept could eliminate empty shelves and aisles full of product pallets.

ICSC announces Best-of-the-Best Award winners

May 18, 2009

LAS VEGAS — The International Council of Shopping Centers Inc. (ICSC) has announced that four shopping centers have been chosen as ICSC's Best-of-the-Best…

Target adding mini-markets to 100 stores

May 14, 2009

Progressive Grocer: Target is adding new store-within-a-store grocery and fresh foods mini markets in about 100 of its new and remodeled stores during the…

Pan-Oston delivers Ergolane checkout design to Europe

May 12, 2009

BOWLING GREEN, Ken. — Pan-Oston, designer, developer and manufacturer of retail checkout products, has announced that the first international export order for…

Sunoco debuts new store layout

May 11, 2009

NEW YORK — CBX, a strategic branding, design and consultancy agency, has completed a new store layout for Sunoco's APlus-branded convenience store operation.

Solving the player-to-screen puzzle

How to make the right networking and connectivity choices when planning retail digital signage.

Walgreens to redesign its stores this summer

May 3, 2009

Display & Design Ideas: Walgreen Co. recently shed new light on its previously announced store-renovation program. The company will roll out its first…

Is price the only 'P' that matters?

Convenience-based value propositions are losing their appeal as people are repricing their free time.