Retail Stores

Williams-Sonoma to Open UK Stores in 2012
August 1, 2011

Williams-Sonoma is planning a U.K. launch in 2012, according to a report by The Independent newspaper. The report said the company has appointed a U.K. retail property agent and plans to open its first store in the first half of next year.

Payless ShoeSource Opens 100th Franchise Store
July 29, 2011

Collective Brands, parent to Payless ShoeSource, announced the opening of its 100th franchise store, which is located in Cirebon, Indonesia. The store represents the seventh store in Indonesia to date and the overall rapid international expansion of the Payless store chain over the past two years through its franchise strategy. "The franchise model has proven to be an effective way to quickly reach more international markets with the Payless brand,” said LuAnn Via, CEO and president of Payless ShoeSource.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Narrows Q2 Loss
July 29, 2011

Build-A-Bear Workshop reported that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended July 2 to $6.7 million, compared with a loss of $8.5 million in the year-ago period. The retailer increased total revenue 10 percent to $81.8 million, and consolidated same-store sales 7.1 percent.

David Beckham Designs Underwear for H&M
July 29, 2011

David Beckham has teamed up with fashion retailer H&M on a new bodywear range. The soccer star has been working on his line for the last year and has secured an exclusive deal with the Swedish retailer. Beckham’s new underwear range will be stocked in over 1,800 H&M stores across 40 countries around the world.  

GameStop Launches New In-Store Digital PC Game Purchase Method
July 29, 2011

GameStop is making it easier for PC gamers to get their hands on hot new releases. Exclusively at GameStop, customers can now use any accepted form of payment, including trade credit and GameStop gift cards, to purchase digital PC games at their local store and access the titles immediately at launch.

Consumers Take Couponing to Extremes
July 28, 2011

Though it may seem like a new fad is sweeping the nation, it’s actually been around for more than 100 years. Coupons, first widely used by C.W. Post in 1909 to help sell his now-famed Post brand breakfast cereals, have become a social phenomenon. Who would have thought that the once-revolutionary newspaper coupon would grow into a life of its own?

Wal-Mart Opens First Urban Express Store in Chicago
July 28, 2011

The nation's first urban Wal-Mart Express store has opened on Chicago's South Side, part of a highly anticipated test that Wal-Mart hopes will help turn around a two-year U.S. sales slump.

Office Depot Loss Widens
July 27, 2011

Office Depot reported its loss widened to $29 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $25 million in the year-ago period. Sales were essentially flat in the quarter at $2.7 billion. By division, total sales dipped 2 percent in the North American retail division to $1.1 billion, and same-store sales decreased 1 percent.

Borders' Closing Adds to Retail Vacancy Rate
July 25, 2011

Borders' liquidation will increase available U.S. retail space by as much as 6.3 million square feet, according to DJM Realty LLC, as the industry struggles with near-record vacancy rates and stagnant rents.