EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Shop Kick Helping the Boxes

In the never ending fight to get customers in the store, retailers are using a relatively new iPhone and Android app called Shop Kick to generate customer trips. Shop Kick users get rewards when they walk into partner stores.  Check out this article and you may end up downloading the app.  However, some may end […]

Walmart Market posts 3% quarterly increase in comp sales

Wal-Mart announced that comparable store sales in the U.S. declined (again) in the second quarter of 2011, and overall U.S. sales were flat. However, comps for Walmart Market stores increased 3% from the previous quarter, prompting the mega-retailer to speed up the supermarket’s rollout. So far, the company has announced that about 180 Walmart Market […]

Investor interest in grocery-anchored centers is growing

According to a story in the Supermarket News last week, the president and COO of the country’s largest commercial real estate valuation firm said investor interest is growing in grocery-anchored shopping centers. Jeffrey Rogers of Integra Realty Resources expects anchor tenants to regain strength and small shop leasing to increase in neighborhoods that are showing […]

Wakefern member says profit margins are one percent

Village Super Market Vice Chairman Bill Sumas told The Baltimore Sun recently that his stores, which are part of the Wakefern cooperative, operate on a one percent margin. At the same time, he credited his family’s involvement in the company as well as the economies of scale Wakefern offers as the reason they keep “moving […]

New Store Announcements - Week of 8/8/11

The following were a list of stores that were mentioned in articles throughout the week.  Last week TJX Companies (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods) had the most stores announced.  This week Kohl’s is the winner.  Week of 8/8/11 Cabela’s – Wichita, KS, 80,000 SF Hobby Lobby – Wallkill, NY (30-50 jobs) Kohl’s – Williamsport, PA (130 […]

Walmart: Trying to Generate More Sales

Three new moves Walmart is implementing to generate more sales… 1, Walmart Express – 15,000 SF 2. Remodel all stores by 2012 3. Walmart To Go – Online grocery delivery service with minimum $49 order ($5 fee) Forbes Article In the past few quarters, Wal-Mart has struggled to lift its same-store sales despite new initiatives like Project Impact in […]

Walmart Express Under Construction in North Carolina

A new Walmart Express is under construction on the east coast in Greene County North Carolina. News 12 Link

Petco Going Smaller with Unleashed

Petco has a smaller concept called Unleashed that takes approximately 4,000-5,000 square feet. The Unleashed concept is smaller than the typical Petco store and specializes in natural, organic, and higher end products. One of the latest locations will open in Severna Park, MD. Severna Park Patch Article Unleashed Web Site

Liberty Media Bidding for Barnes & Noble

As reported earlier this year, Liberty Media has made a $1 billion ($17 per share) offer to acquire approximately 70% of Barnes & Noble.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Liberty is through the due diligence phase of their financial data analysis and now working on arranging financing for the transaction. Liberty owns QVC and […]

New Store Announcements - Week of 8/1/11

  The following is a list of new stores that were mentioned in articles throughout the week or are occurring in the Philadelphia area:   Big Lots – Livermore, CA Big Lots – Abilene, TX Office Depot – Brownsville, TX, 18,000 SF Cabela’s – Tulalip, WA (200 jobs) Cabela’s – Charleston, WV Carmike Theaters – Pottstown, PA Costco – […]