Content about Big-box store

April 4, 2013

Whether you are a retail analyst or a casual observer, it can be all too easy to get lost in the negativity of recent store closings and retail bankruptcies.

April 1, 2013

Survey: Target, Best Buy, Walmart excel in mobile experience

Three high-profile big-box retailers received high marks for their mobile experiences, according to a survey by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Worthington, Ohio -- Three high-profile big-box retailers received high marks for their mobile experiences, according to a survey by Prosper Insights & Analytics. In fact, among mobile users, 28.9% have used their mobile devices to shop at Walmart, 27.7% at Target, and 22% at Best Buy.

March 28, 2013

Destination Maternity superstore format in Canadian debut

Destination Maternity Corp. opened the first Destination Maternity superstore location in Canada.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. on Thursday opened the first Destination Maternity superstore location in Canada. The 5,000-sq.-ft. store is in Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, B.C.

March 22, 2013

Cornering the Market

The recent announcement that retail giant Walmart plans to open more than 100 of the brand’s Neighborhood Market stores in 2013, and as many as 500 Neighborhood Market locations over the next few years, has industry analysts and observers talking. They have my attention, as well.

March 7, 2013

Hunter Crossroads, Fort Worth, Texas

When an 180,000-sq.-ft. Walmart Supercenter opens at Hunter Crossroads this fall, it will mark the first major retail opening in the shopping center, which is part of a larger 160-acre planned mixed-use project.

Developed by Hunter Crossroads LP, the center is being leased by Transwestern, based in Dallas.

Construction on the new Walmart is more than halfway completed; expected opening date is September 2013 and the store will feature Walmart’s smaller, more efficient prototype in lieu of its more traditional 220,000-sq.-ft. layout.

January 22, 2013

Walmart announces $450 million expansion in Canada

Walmart updated its plans for its Canadian division, saying that it plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects in the country during the company’s next fiscal year (February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014).

New York -- Walmart on Tuesday updated its plans for its Canadian division, saying that it plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects in the country during the company’s next fiscal year (February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014). The announcement comes a couple of months before Target Corp.’s spring launch of its stores in Canada.

January 8, 2013

Owner of Mandee and Annie Sez files Chapter 11, citing impact of Superstore Sandy

Big M Inc., which operates Mandee and Annie Sez stores, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

New York -- Big M Inc., which operates Mandee and Annie Sez stores, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The New Jersey-based retailer cited the impact of Superstorm Sandy, which resulted in closures that affected its stores, corporate office and distribution center for more than a week. The company cited liabilities of between $50 million and $100 million, along with assets of the same amount.

January 4, 2013

Full-season holiday report: Traffic down 16.4%, sales down 3.4%

A Friday report by RetailNext said that its analysis of 8.5 million shopping trips to big-box and specialty retailers in the U.S. during the 2011 and 2012 holiday seasons revealed that:

San Jose, Calif. -- A Friday report by RetailNext said that its analysis of 8.5 million shopping trips to big-box and specialty retailers in the U.S. during the 2011 and 2012 holiday seasons revealed that:

January 2, 2013

Survey tracks top holiday retailers based on in-store traffic

The weekend before Christmas ranked as the busiest shopping period in December by in-store visits to top retailers, with Super Saturday ranking among the three busiest shopping days for Walmart, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Macy’s and Kohl’s, according to Placed.

Seattle -- The weekend before Christmas ranked as the busiest shopping period in December by in-store visits to top retailers, with Super Saturday ranking among the three busiest shopping days for Walmart, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Macy’s and Kohl’s, according to Placed.

December 7, 2012

Walmart Canada opens 200th supercenter

Walmart Canada opened its 200th supercenter, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Mississsauga, Ontario -- Walmart Canada on Friday opened its 200th supercenter, in Edmonton, Alberta. Today's grand opening marks a major milestone for Walmart Canada. The company opened its first supercentres in Ontario in 2006. Today, Walmart Canada has supercentres in six provinces and 373 stores nationwide serving more than eight million customers each week.

October 22, 2012

Walmart Supercenter opens after eight years in the making

New York City-based Brixmor Property Group said Walmart Supercenter at Liberty Plaza, in Randallstown (Baltimore), Md., grand-opened on Oct. 17 in 160,908 sq. ft.

Baltimore, Md. -- New York City-based Brixmor Property Group said Walmart Supercenter at Liberty Plaza, in Randallstown (Baltimore), Md., grand-opened on Oct. 17 in 160,908 sq. ft.

Brixmor said that discussions with Walmart for the development of this supercenter began as early as 2004, as redevelopment efforts paved the way for the retailer.

October 10, 2012

Walmart Canada to grand-open 30 stores in October

Walmart Canada said it will complete 30 real estate projects by the end of October, including two supercenter conversions and 28 new stores totaling 2.4 million sq. ft. of retail space.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Walmart Canada said Tuesday it will complete 30 real estate projects by the end of October, including two supercenter conversions and 28 new stores totaling 2.4 million sq. ft. of retail space.

The new stores were former Zellers locations; 10 will be converted to supercenters and 18 will be Walmart Canada discount stores.

“This is an exciting month for Walmart Canada,” said Jim Thompson, COO, Walmart Canada.

September 20, 2012

Study: Few sites for smaller big-box footprints in urban Chicago

A real estate report released by Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s Urban Team found that much of Chicago lacks the type of product that today’s downsized big-box retailers are looking for.

Chicago -- A real estate report released Wednesday by Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s Urban Team found that much of Chicago lacks the type of product that today’s downsized big-box retailers are looking for.

September 14, 2012

Home Depot to close its last seven big-box stores in China

The Home Depot Inc. said Friday it will close its remaining seven big-box outlets in China and focus on Internet-based sales and specialty stores.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot Inc. said Friday it will close its remaining seven big-box outlets in China and focus on Internet-based sales and specialty stores.

August 10, 2012

The Showrooming Scramble: Why Retailers Must Embrace Customer-Centered Service Innovation

By Craig LaRosa, Continuum

By Craig LaRosa, clarosa@continuuminnovation.com

A consumer walks into a store, tries on a pair of running shoes, and then hops online to buy them from someone else—10% to 15% cheaper. It’s called “showrooming” and it has a lot of businesses scrambling.

June 18, 2012

Study: Walmart Supercenter wins pricing battle over Amazon and Walmart.com

Walmart Supercenter wins the pricing battle over Amazon and Walmart.com, according to a new study by Kantar Retail.

Cambridge, Mass. -- Walmart Supercenter wins the pricing battle over Amazon and Walmart.com, according to a new study by Kantar Retail. The study evaluates how a Walmart Supercenter basket contends with its online equivalent, Walmart.com, and its key online competitor, Amazon.

May 1, 2012

Federal Realty Celebrates a Half-Century in Retail

Chain Store Age senior editor Katherine Field Boccaccio sat down with Chris Weilminster, Federal Realty’s senior VP leasing and a 22-year veteran of the company, to talk about the industry in general and about Federal Realty’s 50-year perspective on retail.

As one of the oldest REITs in existence today, Federal Realty Investment Trust has every right to send up some fireworks over reaching the 50-year mark this year.

The Rockville, Md.-based real estate company was established in 1962 with three properties in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, including Congressional Plaza (shown here, both then and now). Today, Federal Realty’s portfolio comprises about 19.3 million sq. ft. primarily in its core base of the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S., as well as in California.

April 25, 2012

Best Bye?

Fresh off the resignation of CEO Brian Dunn and the revelation that the company lost a not-so- insignificant sum of $1.7 billion last quarter, Best Buy’s recent announcement to close 50 stores by the end of 2012 probably didn’t come as a surprise to anyone in our industry.

March 29, 2012

Best Buy to close 50 big-boxes, expand mobile-only format

In a move to tighten its footprint and reduce costs, Best Buy Co. said it will close 50 of its signature big-box stores and open 100 of its small mobile locations in the United States in fiscal 2013.

Minneapolis -- In a move to tighten its footprint and reduce costs, Best Buy Co. said Thursday it will close 50 of its signature big-box stores and open 100 of its small mobile locations in the United States in fiscal 2013. The shift will help cut $250 million in costs by 2013 and $800 million by 2015, said the electronics retailer.

February 21, 2012

Wal-Mart Stores’ profit falls 4.2%, but U.S. sales on the rise

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit dropped 4.2% on higher costs, but its U.S. business continued to draw in more shoppers.

Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit dropped 4.2% on higher costs, but its U.S. business continued to draw in more shoppers.

Net income was $5.16 billion in the three months ended Jan. 31, compared with $6.05 billion in the year-ago period.

Net sales, excluding membership fees from its Sam’s Club division, rose 5.8% to $122.3 billion. International sales rose 13%, and U.S. sales rose 2.4%.

January 27, 2012

Meijer names COO

Meijer said it has appointed J.K. Symancyk to the newly created role of COO.

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Meijer said Friday it has appointed J.K. Symancyk to the newly created role of COO. The grocery and superstore retailer has also hired Peter Whitsett as executive VP of merchandising and marketing.

Symancyk will report directly to Mark Murray, president of Meijer, and will have three direct reports: Janet Emerson, executive VP of retail operations; Rick Keyes, executive VP of supply chain and manufacturing; and Peter Whitsett, who is operating in the role previously held by Symancyk.

January 25, 2012

PGA Tour Superstore announces second Chicago location

On the heels of announcing its PGA Tour Superstore opening in Schaumburg, Ill., the company announced that Downers Grove will be the site for the second PGA Tour Superstore in the Chicago area.

Roswell, Ga. -- On the heels of announcing its PGA Tour Superstore opening in Schaumburg, Ill., the company announced that Downers Grove will be the site for the second PGA Tour Superstore in the Chicago area.

January 25, 2012

Walmart opens second superstore store in Chicago

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened its second supercenter and fifth location overall in Chicago.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Wednesday opened its second supercenter and fifth location overall in Chicago.

January 20, 2012

Wal-Mart names Rosalind Brewer CEO of Sam’s Club; first female CEO in company history

Wal-Mart Stores announced a series of management changes that include an unexpected change in leadership at Sam’s Club, and a new chief information officer.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced a series of management changes that include an unexpected change in leadership at Sam’s Club, and a new chief information officer. The retailer said it has named Rosalind Brewer as president and CEO of Sam's Club. She is the first woman and the first African-American to hold a CEO position at one of the company's business units.

January 11, 2012

PGA Tour Superstore to open two stores in Chicago area

PGA Tour Superstore plans to open a 60,000-sq.-ft. store in the Chicago area in late spring 2012, followed by an additional location in the area later in the year.

Roswell, Ga. -- PGA Tour Superstore plans to open a 60,000-sq.-ft. store in the Chicago area in late spring 2012, followed by an additional location in the area later in the year. The two Chicago metro stores will be the company’s first locations in the Midwest.

The first store will be located in Schaumburg at the site of the former Great Indoors store at Golf Road and Meacham Road near Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Chicagoland. The location of the second store will be announced at a later date.