Daily Archives: June 24, 2017

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Nordstrom Rack at Bayshore Town Center in Glendale, Wisconsin scheduled to open in fall 2018

SEATTLE, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc. announced today (June 22, 2017) plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Bayshore Town Center in Glendale, Wisconsin. The approximately 26,800-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2018.

Bayshore Town Center is a 45-acre complex on the North Shore of Milwaukee featuring an assortment of retail, dining, entertainment, office space and residential units. The new Nordstrom Rack location will anchor the redeveloped north end of the project which will also feature a new mall entry, expanded convenient parking and other retail space. Nordstrom Rack will join existing retailers such as H&M, Ulta Beauty, iPic Cineplex, Trader Joe’s and Kohl’s.

“We look forward to opening a store at Bayshore Town Center – a more convenient location for our customers in the North Shore area,” said Karen McKibbin, president of Nordstrom Rack. “We’re excited to bring customers here the great brands at great prices they’ve come to expect when we open our doors in 2018.”

This will be the second Nordstrom Rack store in the Milwaukee area. The company also operates a full-line store at Mayfair Mall.

“We are thrilled to once again be partnering with Nordstrom Rack at another one of our leading multi-use shopping destinations,” said Ken Marshall, Head of Retail at Olshan Properties.  “We are very proud of our roster of tenants that includes the best brands in fashion, technology, entertainment and dining who are thriving at Bayshore Town Center, and are excited to welcome Nordstrom Rack into the mix to provide the customers of Milwaukee with another desirable name brand retailer to enjoy.”

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc., offering customers a wide selection of on-trend apparel, accessories and shoes at an everyday savings of 30-70 percent off regular prices. Nordstrom Rack merchandise, available at Rack stores and at Nordstromrack.com, comes from Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom.com as well as specially purchased items from many of the top brands available at Nordstrom. The Rack is designed to provide the ultimate treasure hunt to style-savvy customers.

About Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion specialty retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 354 stores in 40 states, including 122 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 221 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; and two clearance stores. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook. The company also owns Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service serving customers online at TrunkClub.com and its seven clubhouses. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

About Bayshore Town Center
Bayshore Town Center, owned and operated by Olshan Properties, is a mixed-use town center located in Glendale, Wisconsin.  Originally constructed in 1954 and converted into an enclosed mall in 1974, Olshan Properties fully redeveloped the project into a vibrant mixed-use town center in 2006.  The 45-acre, 1.3 million-square-foot complex features an eclectic mix of retail, dining, entertainment, office and residential uses all woven together by Bayshore Town Center’s signature gathering spaces where visitors and community members shop, dine, relax and have fun. The center currently includes 255,000 square-feet of office space, 113 residential apartments and nearly one million-square-feet of retail and restaurant space. Bayshore Town Center is a desirable address and an exciting, convenient place to “live, work, and play” that draws millions of visitors annually. For more information, visit www.bayshoretowncenter.com.

About Olshan Properties
Olshan Properties is a privately owned real estate firm specialized in the development, acquisition, leasing and management of commercial real estate for more than 55 years.  The close integration of investment and operating capabilities has given Olshan Properties a reputation as one of the leading private owner/operators of commercial real estate in the country.

Olshan Properties currently owns and/or manages, individually or with its affiliated companies, a diverse portfolio of commercial properties including Retail, Hotel, Office, and Residential in eleven states.  For more information, click here.

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Brenna Sussman
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 303-2316
Brenna.Sussman@nordstrom.com

Mary-Kate Morrow
Rubenstein
(212) 843-9326
mmorrow@rubenstein.com

 

 

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Wine.com on 1st place in the 6th edition of the e-Performance Barometer international rankings of wine websites

Bordeaux Business School study ranks Wine.com #1 on global stage  

San Francisco, CA, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wine.com, the nation’s number one online retailer, received 1st place in the 6th edition of the e-Performance Barometer international rankings of wine websites conducted by the prestigious KEDGE Business School. The 2017 results were announced at VINEXPO, the bi-annual international exhibition attended by more than 45,000 wine and spirits professionals. The report, released on June 21, is now available.

To conduct the analysis, over 2,300 internet users in nine countries (France, Spain, Germany, the UK, Italy, Australia, the United States, Canada and China) evaluated 23 e-commerce wine websites selected from over 400 candidates. The study analyzed and ranked each site on seven performance criteria: information, navigation, product offering, aesthetics, security and privacy, interactivity and reliability.

“I am thrilled to see Wine.com recognized on the world stage at Vinexpo. Whether from my family estates in Burgundy, the Rhone Valley or the South of France or from our historic California wineries of Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards or Raymond Vineyards, Wine.com has continually represented the breadth of our family wines,” said Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection.  He added, “Wine.com is passionate about telling the stories of vintners like us and the future of e-commerce holds dynamic growth opportunities.”

“The e-Performance Barometer highlights many of the key differentiators that we set out to accomplish – offering the largest selection, live chat guidance, and rich content – conveniently delivered,” said Michael Osborn, Wine.com Founder and VP Merchandising. “We continue to inspire the wine lifestyle through innovation, and this award further validates our strategy.”

About KEDGE Business School
Headquartered in Bordeaux, France, KEDGE was founded from the merger of two internationally renowned business schools, BEM and Euromed Management. Its activities fall within two inter-related categories: applied research and education, including 31 formal higher education courses and a thriving Executive Education program, and four recognized areas of research expertise and six management centers of excellence. This dual expertise in education and research has earned it its status among the 1% of the world’s business schools that are triple accredited by EQUIS, AMBA and AACS. https://kedge.edu

About Wine.com
Wine.com is the nation’s leading online wine retailer, offering selection, guidance and convenience not found in brick and mortar stores.  The company provides its customers access to the world’s largest wine store, with live chat wine experts available 7 days a week on its mobile and full websites. With multiple fulfillment centers and the most sophisticated retail wine distribution network in the United States, Wine.com delivers in 1-2 days to most addresses, offering date-certain delivery and the convenience of shipping for pickup at 3,500 FedEx pick-up sites.  The company’s popular StewardShip program provides unlimited wine delivery and exclusive access to new releases for $49 per year.  Just launched, the Wine.com iOS app allows users to scan, rate and purchase wines on the go.  Wine.com’s mission, to inspire the wine lifestyle through innovation, is captured in its brand manifesto video, viewable here.  For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.wine.com.

SOURCE:  Wine.com

Press Contact:

Gwendolyn Osborn
Gwendolyn@wine.com
415-248-4402

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Rakuten and LIFULL enter the vacation rental business in Japan; establishes Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Inc.

Rakuten LIFULL STAY represents innovative step into sharing economy in Japan

Tokyo, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ —  Rakuten, Inc. and LIFULL Co., Ltd. today (June 22, 2017) announced that the two companies will enter the vacation rental business in Japan with the establishment of Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Inc., a subsidiary of RAKUTEN LIFULL STAY PTE. LTD., which is jointly owned by Rakuten and LIFULL. (Investment ratio: Rakuten: 51%; LIFULL: 49%).

As a vacation rental intermediary registered with the Japan Tourism Agency in accordance with the recently passed Private Lodgings Business Law, Rakuten LIFULL STAY will develop a new platform connecting owners of unoccupied homes or rooms who are looking to provide accommodation with people who are wishing to rent. The service, tentatively titled “Vacation Stay,” will provide property owners with new opportunities to make use of their unutilized assets and give users a greater variety of options for accommodation.

By offering a diverse range of more than 70 services, Rakuten has built a user base of approximately 90 million members in Japan and developed a strong network with local governments nationwide. LIFULL operates a real estate and housing information site with around 8 million properties listed and has a network of more than 22,000 affiliated real estate stores. Representing an innovative step into the sharing economy for both companies, Rakuten LIFULL STAY will draw on Rakuten’s membership base as well as LIFULL’s resources and expertise in the real estate industry.

To make it easier for individuals or organizations to make their properties available through the service, Rakuten LIFULL STAY also plans to offer comprehensive support options, assisting with everything from the preparation of properties to day-to-day operations. Operational burden will also be reduced through the development of outsourcing options with external partners. It is hoped these services will result in more properties being made available and the creation of an environment in which the service can be used safely and with greater peace of mind by guests.

In recent years, the growing number of vacant homes in Japan caused by the declining population and stagnating housing market has become a major social issue. At the same time, Japan is facing an acute shortage of accommodation as tourist numbers grow in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Increasing the amount of accommodation available is a pressing issue that the government hopes to address in part through the new Private Lodgings Business Law. Under the law, individuals and businesses meeting certain requirements will be able to utilize their unoccupied homes or rooms to provide vacation rental services without needing a license under the Inns and Hotels Act.

By providing a vacation rental service through Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Rakuten and LIFULL aim to meet the broad demand for accommodation from both domestic and overseas tourists, and address the serious problem of vacant homes while supporting the development and expansion of the accommodation industry.

Overview of Rakuten LIFULL STAY
Company name: Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Inc.
Address: Otemachi Financial City Grand Cube 3F
1-9-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Munekatsu Ota
Details of business: Providing services related to vacation rental platform
Date of establishment: March 2017
Website: https://www.rakuten-lifull-stay.co.jp

About Rakuten
Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to more than 1 billion members around the world. Since 2012, Rakuten has ranked in the top 20 of Forbes Magazine’s annual “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list. The Rakuten Group has over 14,000 employees, and operations in 29 countries and regions.
For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.

About LIFULL
LIFULL Co., Ltd. (former company name: “NEXT Co., Ltd.”; TSE First Section: 2120) is a company that operates real estate and housing information services. It was established in 1997 based on an aspiration to change the real estate industry. Its main service is the operation of LIFULL HOME’S, a website providing real estate and housing information, which provides the industry’s most extensive library of property information in Japan. * LIFULL has been expanding its domains from its mainstay housing business, to peripheral areas including nursing care, interior, and insurance. The company has expanded LIFULL HOME’S overseas and is operating Trovit, one of the world’s largest aggregation sites. LIFULL has operations in 53 countries.
LIFULL Group’s corporate message is “Make every LIFE FULL.” LIFULL provides “LIFE solutions” that will offer security and pleasure to people around the world.
For more information visit https://LIFULL.com/en/

Based on the survey conducted by Sankei Medix (announced on January 26, 2017)

SOURCE: Rakuten, Inc.

 

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LCP converts Miller House into an office-to-residential property; its first PDR scheme completed in the north-west of England

LCP converts Miller House into an office-to-residential property; its first PDR scheme completed in the north-west of England

London, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Leading property investment group LCP has completed its first office-to-residential conversion in the north-west of England.

LCP has created Miller House, a development of two one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments on the first floor of a shopping parade in Church Road, Bebington.

The residential scheme is the first that LCP has completed in the north-west under permitted development rights. An offer has already been put in for one apartment while viewings are also underway for the other five.

Matt Pegg, LCP asset manager, said the contemporary-styled homes have a number of high-quality features, including entry phone/video link, high-specification bathroom and fully fitted kitchens plus oak-veneer and carpet flooring.

As part of the conversion plans, it also installed new windows and created foyer access for the private residential scheme.

“The offices were empty for a number of years and there was no interest in take-up,” she said. “Thanks to permitted development rights, we were in a position to convert the space into good quality homes without having to apply for planning permission.

“It was the ideal opportunity to put back into use space that has lain empty for a long time and now that the work is completed, we anticipate quick sales to private buyers.”

Joe Pollard, of Jones and Chapman, which is marketing the apartments, said: “The properties are a testament to the carefully considered planning that took place prior to putting these properties on the market. The apartments have fantastic specification and healthy, naturally light spaces, and are suitable for every demographic – homeowners and investors alike.”

Situated above four shops, including a Co-op Food store and Barnardo’s, the Miller House apartments are now on sale and are priced £115,000 to £125,000. They are being marketed by Jones and Chapman.  More information available at Rightmove.

SOURCE: LCP

For details, contact:

Joe Pollard
0151 644 8666
joe.pollard@jonesandchapman.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sunoco LP president and CEO Robert “Bob” W. Owens to retire; Joe Kim to succeed

Sunoco Executives Cynthia Archer and Boyd Foster Also Retiring

DALLAS, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) announced today (June 22, 2017) that Robert “Bob” W. Owens, president and chief executive officer has announced his intention to retire from the Partnership as of December 31, 2017, after more than 20 years with Sunoco and its predecessors.  Owens, who joined Sunoco Inc. in 1997, has been serving as president and CEO since 2012.

Effective immediately, Joe Kim, who has been serving as executive vice president and chief development officer for Sunoco since 2015, has been appointed president and chief operating officer.  Owens will continue as CEO until his retirement and will then serve as a consultant to the Partnership through 2019.

Sunoco executives Cynthia Archer, executive vice president and chief marketing officer and Boyd Foster, executive vice president manufacturing and distribution are also retiring from the Partnership effective December 31, 2017.

“We thank Bob for his many years of strategic leadership, which has resulted in an impressive list of accomplishments for both the employees and the unit holders of Sunoco and wish him and his family the best,” said Kelcy Warren, Chairman of Energy Transfer Equity, the entity that owns the general partner of Sunoco. “While we are sad to see Bob go, we are excited for the next generation of leadership at Sunoco to take on larger roles. Joe is an exceptionally talented leader and he has played a significant role in the planned transformation of the Partnership from a retail-based business into a premier nationwide fuel supplier.”

“Additionally, the appointment of Joe as president and COO and Bob continuing as CEO through year-end will ensure an orderly transition as we move through the divestment of our retail operations during the coming months,” added Warren.

Owens joined Sunoco as senior vice president of marketing where he was responsible for Sunoco’s retail network, wholesale marketing and transportation operations, and commercial supply and trading activities for crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals. Prior to joining Sunoco, he held executive positions with Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Amerada Hess Corporation and Mobil Oil Corporation. Owens is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Kim has been responsible for the Partnership’s strategic development and planning overseeing both business development and Sunoco’s real estate portfolio. Prior to joining Sunoco, he held various executive positions, including chief operating officer for Pizza Hut and senior vice president- retail strategy and growth for Valero Energy.  Kim began his career with Arthur Andersen.  He is a graduate of Trinity University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Sunoco LP  (NYSE: SUN) is a master limited partnership that operates 1,355 convenience stores and retail fuel sites and distributes motor fuel to 7,825 convenience stores, independent dealers, commercial customers and distributors located in 30 states. SUN’s general partner is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE). For more information visit sunocolp.com.

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) is a master limited partnership that owns the general partner and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) of Sunoco LP. For more information visit energytransfer.com.

Cautionary Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking Information

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding future events. These forward-looking statements are based on SUN’s current plans and expectations and involve a numbers of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to vary materially from the results and events anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of SUN’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and in other filings made by SUN with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While Sunoco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if new information becomes available.

Investors:
Scott Grischow
Senior Director – Investor Relations and Treasury
(214) 840-5660
scott.grischow@sunoco.com

Patrick Graham
Senior Analyst – Investor Relations and Finance
(214) 840-5678
patrick.graham@sunoco.com

Media:
Alyson Gomez
Director – Communications
(469) 646-1758
alyson.gomez@sunoco.com

Energy Transfer
Investor Relations:
Helen Ryoo, Lyndsay Hannah, Brent Ratliff
214-981-0795

Media Relations:
Vicki Granado
214-840-5820

SOURCE: Sunoco LP

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Trax and Nielsen partner to provide the FMCG industry with unprecedented shelf insights

Through this alliance, a new, joint-solution known as Shelf Intelligence Suite will be created.

Los Angeles, CA/ New York, NY, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Trax, the world leader in computer vision for retail, and Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) announced today (June 22 2017) an alliance that will provide the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry with unprecedented shelf insights.  This alliance, which will first service the U.S. market, is anticipated to grow to global markets in the future. Through this alliance, a new, joint-solution known as Shelf Intelligence Suite will be created.  This suite includes a new syndicated offering from Trax and Nielsen that digitizes the shelf, allowing brands to have a more frequent and accurate measurement of how their products are represented in store and how this influences their sales.

The new Shelf Intelligence Suite comprises of two solutions:

  • Shelf Pulse, which provides FMCG companies with ongoing digitized measurement of in-store shelving conditions for their brands and competitors, shelf compliance vs plan and visual proof for store activation.
  • Shelf Blueprint, which provides predictive analytics to help FMCG manufacturers set the best strategy for store merchandising (facings, adjacencies, shelf placement, flow, etc.)

At the core of the offering, a new category benchmark will also be introduced to the market called the Shelf Quality Index.  This index enables brands to measure their own shelf performance relative to shelf share, observed promotions, observed shelf pricing and many other KPIs against a category. With this new retail currency, Trax and Nielsen are set to deliver market shaping change to the retail industry.

Trax’s breakthrough computer vision and analytics platform turns photographs of a retail shelf into insights that can be used to improve in-store execution strategies. This enables companies to easily control performance gaps, identify category opportunities and maximize their sales velocity.  Nielsen, a global leader in retail measurement and analytics services, holds the largest FMCG point of sale dataset in the industry. Nielsen’s purchase data offers comprehensive information on market shares, competitive sales volumes and insights into distribution, pricing, merchandising and promotion. Together, Nielsen’s Retail Measurement Services (RMS) and Trax’s computer vision platform will help FMCG companies better understand how shelf performance directly impacts product sales.

“Combining the powerful data assets from both companies will be a game changer for the consumer goods industry” says Dror Feldheim, Trax Chief Commercial Officer.  “The alliance with Nielsen, will not only see sales uplifts for FMCG companies, but will help drive continuous improvement and category growth between brands and retailers. Users will have access to a granular level of shelf measurement and analysis that has never been possible before.”

“The powerful visualization of sales and detailed store conditions will enable faster activation that yields greater financial outcomes for manufacturer and retail clients” says Doug Bennett, Nielsen EVP US Buy.  “This alliance is a natural fit – we are thrilled to bring our clients a holistic solution with greater analytical depth and measurement frequency for local action”

The Shelf Intelligence Suite is available in the U.S. market, now and expected to expand to other global markets in the near future.   For additional information, please go to http://www.traxretail.com/trax-solutions/shelf-intelligence-suite/

ABOUT NIELSEN

Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy.  Nielsen’s Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Total Audience measurement services for all devices on which content — video, audio and text — is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry’s only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen also provides its clients with analytics that help improve performance.  Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit http://www.nielsen.com.

ABOUT TRAX

Trax is the world leader in computer vision solutions for retail, ranking in the top 25 Fastest Growing Companies on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list. The company enables tighter execution controls in-store and the ability to leverage competitive insights through their in-store execution tools, market measurement services and data science to unlock revenue opportunities at all points of sale. Trax does this using smartphones and tablets to gain actionable shelf analytics in real-time.  With over 175 clients, in over 50 countries, top brands such as Coca-Cola, AB InBev, Nestle, Henkel, PepsiCo and many more, leverage Trax globally to manage their in-store execution and increase revenues at the shelf. Trax is headquartered in Singapore with offices worldwide. To learn more about Trax, please visit www.traxretail.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Genevieve Aronson
Nielsen
Genevieve.Aronson@Nielsen.com
646-654-5742

Fei Fei Ho
Trax
feifei@traxretail.com
+65 9775 5569

Source: Trax

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ENGLAND: New B&M Home Store opens in Ipswich

Hartlepool, United Kingdom, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — There was excitement in Ipswich today (23 June 2017) as B&M cut the ribbon on its newest store in the town.

The new B&M Home Store has been long awaited, and comes as a welcome boost to the local economy.

Visitors to the store, based on Anglia Retail Park, will be able to browse a wide range of branded and own label goods, including toys, groceries, health & beauty and pet ranges.

As part of the opening day celebrations, B&M colleagues invited along Lighthouse Women’s Aid to be their VIP for the day – with the charity also receiving £250 worth of B&M vouchers as a thank you for taking part.

The charity runs a wellbeing centre in central Ipswich where they provide emotional support to women and their children experiencing domestic abuse in their personal or family relationships.

The team at the centre provides a one-stop shop of advice and information for women and children, while also presenting an opportunity for all women and children across the county to develop new skills and come together within a safe and caring environment.

Ashley Wheelhouse, B&M Anglia store manager, said: “The team from Lighthouse Women’s Aid really stood out for us as they go the extra mile for the community – we wanted to give them some VIP treatment as a thank you for all the hard work they do.

“We hope that our donation can help them to continue the great work they do.”

He also commented: “The new team have been working really hard to get the store ready for opening day and we couldn’t wait to get the doors open and show customers their new B&M!”

Also attending the opening day celebrations was Deputy Mayor, Councillor Roger Fern, who gratefully accepted an invitation to attend and help cut the ribbon.

A total of more than 90 jobs have been created as a result of the new B&M, formally a Comet store, as the variety retailer continues to make its mark across the country.

The opening day fun extends to Saturday as well, with lucky shoppers able to enter the B&M Big Prize Bonanza, a free game show taking place at the store.

Those who enter will be in with a chance of winning prizes including a Steam Cleaner, B&M vouchers, Cadbury’s Chocolates and much more.

Contact:

email: press@bmstores.co.uk

Source: B&M

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Build-A-Bear Workshop launches Keely, the newest addition to its beloved Honey Girls collection

New Colorful Leopard Brings West-Coast Flair to Girl Band as they Hit Los Angeles

ST. LOUIS, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW), an interactive destination where Guests can create personalized furry friends, today (June 22, 2017) launched Keely, the newest addition to its beloved Honey Girls collection, as the band takes on Los Angeles for the first time.

After performing on New Year’s Eve in New York City, the Honey Girls headed to L.A. to shoot their first music video! Original Honey Girls Teegan, Risa and Viv have always been brighter together. Now, they’re expanding their horizons by experiencing a new city and have expanded their friendships by welcoming Keely into their group.

Keely is a colorful leopard makeup artist from L.A. and loves nothing more than using her creativity to celebrate her life and the people in it. With pink, orange and yellow leopard spots; bright fuchsia and orange hair; and sparkly purple ears, she’s ready to give the Honey Girls a touch of L.A. glam. Guests can add her sequin top and pants set, her makeup apron set, sparkly hair accessories and black fringe boots!

Teegan, Risa and Viv have become even more camera ready with Keely’s help! They now have brighter, more vibrant fur and sparkles all over. Teegan and Risa are available online as well as in Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, and Viv is available exclusively at buildabear.com and buildabear.co.uk. The updated Honey Girls furry friends are accompanied by exciting new outfits and accessories perfect for the L.A. scene.

While in L.A., the Honey Girls shot a music video featuring a remix of their popular song “Gotta Go Big”! Join in the fun by watching the new behind-the-scenes video of their adventure here. Check out all the Honey Girls songs and videos at buildabear.com/HoneyGirls as well as on YouTube, and sing along to your favorite hits!

Fearless lead singer Teegan; talented inventor and drummer Viv; and creative guitarist Risa met and formed their band, the Honey Girls, while they were in school together. Each has her own signature song and strengths that help the friends “be brighter together.”

Guests of all ages are invited to visit their local Build-A-Bear Workshop store July 14-16, 2017 to celebrate “Honey Girls Brighter Together Weekend” and participate in fun Honey Girls activities and special offers! More information will be provided at buildabear.com/events next month.

To learn more about the Honey Girls collection and story, visit buildabear.com/HoneyGirls.

For more information about Build-A-Bear, visit buildabear.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About Build-A-Bear
Celebrating 20 years of business in 2017, Build-A-Bear is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has approximately 400 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and China, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. The company was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the ninth year in a row in 2017. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) posted a total revenue of $364.2 million in fiscal 2016. For more information, visit buildabear.com.

Source: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

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Lenta announces the opening of its 39th supermarket in Moscow

St. Petersburg, Russia, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lenta, (LSE, MOEX: LNTA) one of the largest retail chains in Russia, is pleased to announce the opening of its 39th supermarket in Moscow.

The new store is a Lenta large format supermarket located in Melody shopping center at 14 Avgustovskaya str., Aprelevka, Moscow region. The store has a total area of 1,434 sq.m with 923 sq.m of selling space and is open from 8.00 am till 11.00 pm, seven days a week. A broad product assortment of 6,900 SKUs has been selected specifically for residents of Moscow and includes Lenta’s private labels and federal product ranges alongside local produce. The store has 8 cash registers. The property is leased by Lenta.

This opening in Moscow is Lenta’s ninth supermarket opening in 2017 and brings the total number of Lenta stores to 195 hypermarkets in 78 cities across Russia and 57 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and the Central region.

About Lenta
Lenta is the largest hypermarket chain in Russia (in terms of selling space) and the country’s fourth largest retail chain (in terms of sales as of Q1 2017). The Company was founded in 1993 in St. Petersburg. Lenta operates 195 hypermarkets in 78 cities across Russia and 57 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and the Central region with a total of approximately 1,171,523 sq.m of selling space. The average Lenta hypermarket store has selling space of approximately 5,700 sq.m. The average Lenta supermarket store has selling space of approximately 900 sq.m. The Company operates seven owned distribution centres.

The Company’s price-led hypermarket formats are differentiated in terms of their promotion and pricing strategies as well as their local product assortment. The Company employed approximately 45,689 people as of 31 December 20161.

The Company’s management team combines a mix of local knowledge and international expertise coupled with extensive operational experience in Russia. Lenta’s largest shareholders include TPG Capital and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, both of which are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. Lenta is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Moscow Exchange and trades under the ticker: ‘LNTA’.

A brief video summary on Lenta’s business and its Big Data initiative can be seen here.

For further information please visit www.lentainvestor.com

Contact:

Lenta
Anastasia Kuznetsova
Corporate Communications Manager
Тel:+7 (812) 336 39 97
E-mail: a.kuznetsova@lenta.com

FTI Consulting
Russian Media:
Anton Karpov & Victoria Afonina
Тel:+7 495 795 06 23
E-mail: lenta@FTIconsulting.com

FTI Consulting
International Media:
Leonid Fink & Jenny Payne
Тel: +44 7497 783 705
E-mail: Leonid.Fink@fticonsulting.com
Jenny.Payne@fticonsulting.com

Source: Lenta

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Lenta announces the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lenta (LSE, MOEX: LNTA) (“the Company”), one of the largest retail chains in Russia, today (23 June 2017) announces the results of the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (“AGM”).

The shareholders re-elected all 7 of Lenta Ltd.’s non-executive Directors:

  • John Oliver (chairman);
  • Stephen Johnson (independent);
  • Anton Artemyev (independent);
  • Michael Lynch-Bell (independent);
  • Dmitry Shvets;
  • Stephen Peel;
  • Martin Elling.

Lenta’s Board of Directors consists of 9 members – 7 non-executives who are elected (or re-elected) annually and the CEO and CFO who hold office by virtue of their executive positions. The first meeting of the Board of Directors’ new term is scheduled for July 2017.

In addition, the AGM reviewed the Company’s annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December, 2016, and reappointed Ernst & Young LLC as Lenta’s auditor until the Company’s next AGM.

Shareholders who registered in the Company’s Register of Members by 23 May, 2017 were entitled to attend and vote at the AGM. The Notice of the AGM which included all matters to be voted upon was sent to shareholders one month in advance of the AGM.

About Lenta
Lenta is the largest hypermarket chain in Russia (in terms of selling space) and the country’s fourth largest retail chain (in terms of sales as of 1Q 2017). The Company was founded in 1993 in St. Petersburg. Lenta operates 195 hypermarkets in 78 cities across Russia and 57 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and the Central region with a total of approximately 1,171,523 sq.m of selling space. The average Lenta hypermarket store has selling space of approximately 5,700 sq.m. The average Lenta supermarket store has selling space of approximately 900 sq.m. The Company operates seven owned distribution centres.

The Company’s price-led hypermarket formats are differentiated in terms of their promotion and pricing strategies as well as their local product assortment. The Company employed approximately 45,689 people as of 31 December 20161.

The Company’s management team combines a mix of local knowledge and international expertise coupled with extensive operational experience in Russia. Lenta’s largest shareholders include TPG Capital and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, both of which are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. Lenta is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Moscow Exchange and trades under the ticker: ‘LNTA’.

A brief video summary on Lenta’s business and its Big Data initiative can be seen here.

For further information please visit www.lentainvestor.com

Contact:

Lenta
Anastasia Kuznetsova
Corporate Communications Manager
Тel:+7 (812) 336 39 97
E-mail: a.kuznetsova@lenta.com

FTI Consulting
Russian Media:
Anton Karpov & Victoria Afonina
Тel:+7 495 795 06 23
E-mail: lenta@FTIconsulting.com

FTI Consulting
International Media:
Leonid Fink & Jenny Payne
Тel: +44 7497 783 705
E-mail: Leonid.Fink@fticonsulting.com
Jenny.Payne@fticonsulting.com

Source: Lenta

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Coach, Inc. extends the expiration of its tender offer to purchase all the outstanding shares of common stock of Kate Spade & Company

NEW YORK, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) (SEHK:6388), a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands (“Coach”), announced today (Jun. 23, 2017) that its wholly owned direct subsidiary, Chelsea Merger Sub Inc. (“Purchaser”), has extended the expiration of its previously announced tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Kate Spade & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Shares”), at a price of $18.50 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and less any applicable withholding taxes (the “Offer”) until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 10, 2017, unless further extended or earlier terminated. The Offer was previously scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on June 23, 2017.

The depositary for the Offer has advised Coach and Purchaser that, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 22, 2017, 19,310,859 Shares have been validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not properly withdrawn.

The Offer has been extended to allow additional time for the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Japanese Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade (Act No. 54 of April 14, 1947, as amended), which is expected to expire on July 2, 2017. All other terms and conditions of the Offer remain unchanged.

Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., is the Information Agent, depositary and paying agent for the tender offer. Requests for documents and questions may be directed to the Information Agent at 888-808-3038.

About Coach

Coach, Inc. is a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands. The Coach brand was established in New York City in 1941, and has a rich heritage of pairing exceptional leathers and materials with innovative design. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, and through Coach’s website at www.coach.com. In 2015, Coach acquired Stuart Weitzman, a global leader in designer footwear, sold in more than 70 countries and through its website at www.stuartweitzman.com. Coach, Inc.’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH and Coach’s Hong Kong Depositary Receipts are traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the symbol 6388.

Neither the Hong Kong Depositary Receipts nor the Hong Kong Depositary Shares evidenced thereby have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account of, a U.S. Person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Hedging transactions involving these securities may not be conducted unless in compliance with the Securities Act.

Additional Information and Where You Can Find It

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER THAT SHOULD BE READ PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION TO TENDER SHARES. These materials have been sent free of charge to all Kate Spade & Company stockholders of record as of May 22, 2017. In addition, all of those materials (and all other tender offer documents filed or furnished by Kate Spade & Company or Coach, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries with the SEC) are available at no charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov. The Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase and related materials) and the Schedule 14D-9 (including the solicitation/recommendation statement) may also be obtained for free by contacting Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., the information agent, depositary and paying agent for the tender offer, at 888-808-3038.

In addition to the offer to purchase, the related letter of transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the solicitation/recommendation statement, Coach, Inc. and Kate Spade & Company file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information filed by Coach, Inc. or Kate Spade & Company at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Coach, Inc.’s and Kate Spade & Company’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Coach, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize as expected; that the merger may not be timely completed, if at all; that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Kate Spade& Company’s business may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described in Coach, Inc.’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC.

Analysts & Media:
Andrea Shaw Resnick
212-629-2618
Global Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
AResnick@coach.com

Christina Colone
212-946-7252
Senior Director, Investor Relations
CColone@coach.com

Source: Coach, Inc.

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Lady Gaga to help promote kindness in schools across America through partnership with Staples for Students program

Lady Gaga to help promote kindness in schools across America through partnership with Staples for Students program

 

Staples Announces $2 Million Donation to DonorsChoose.org and Born This Way Foundation

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lady Gaga is teaming up with Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) to support education and create a positive classroom experience through its Staples for Students program.

The partnership builds on Staples’s long-standing commitment of supporting education and helping teachers and students.

Staples today (Jun. 22, 2017) announced it is donating $1 million to Born This Way Foundation, an organization founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. Born This Way Foundation supports the wellness of young people and empowers them to create a kinder and braver world by fostering kindness, improving mental health resources and creating more positive environments. For the fourth year in a row, Staples is also donating $1 million to DonorsChoose.org, an organization that has funded more than 900,000 classroom projects for teachers since its founding, benefiting more than 22 million students.

Together through this unique partnership with Lady Gaga, her Born This Way Foundation and DonorsChoose.org, the Staples for Students program will help to promote kindness in schools across America and ensure that teachers and students have the resources they need for successful learning in classrooms.

“Teaming up with Lady Gaga, Born This Way Foundation and DonorsChoose.org is an amazing opportunity for the Staples for Students program to support teachers and help create a more positive classroom experience,” said Frank Bifulco, chief marketing officer, Staples. “There’s a correlation between kindness and overall well-being among students, and we hope that together with these perfect partners that we’ll be able to create an environment for students that will help them flourish in school and propel them into their bright futures.”

Lady Gaga said, “Classrooms that are positive and welcoming are classrooms where students can discover their passions and unlock their full potential. I’m excited to work with Staples, DonorsChoose.org and Born This Way Foundation to help teachers and students make their schools more supportive and engaging places. Kindness is one of the most important and most impactful values we can instill in students, and I look forward to working with Staples to foster a positive classroom environment where every student feels safe, heard and empowered.”

The 2017 Staples for Students program is propelled by several sobering statistics:

  • According to the Education Market Association, an estimated 99.5% of all public school teachers use their own money to equip their classrooms – frequently at a cost of more than $400 per year.
  • Sesame Workshop reports that 86% of teachers (and 70% of parents) admit to worrying often that the world is an unkind place for children.

Lady Gaga and Staples are also collaborating on a Public Service Announcement that debuts nationally at the end of June, further emphasizing the need to support teachers and students.

“Staples has been a generous and valued partner of ours for years, and we’re so thankful for its continued support of our mission, which has helped bring learning to life for thousands of teachers and students in classrooms nationwide,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org.

“By creating school climates that are grounded in compassion and generosity we can help to support the emotional well-being of our young people, ensuring they can learn effectively and grow into happy, thriving adults,” said Cynthia Germanotta, co-founder and president of Born This Way Foundation. “We thank Staples for its generous donation and for understanding that the boundless potential of young people can be unlocked by spreading kindness.”

For more information, visit www.StaplesForStudents.org.

Win a $50,000 Scholarship and the chance to meet Lady Gaga
Staples is a proud sponsor of the 2017 Lady Gaga Joanne tour promoted by Live Nation. Beginning June 25, 2017, fans will have the opportunity to enter the Staples for Students Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $50,000 scholarship. The lucky grand prize winner will also win a trip to Las Vegas to meet Lady Gaga and see her in concert. Five additional winners will receive a trip to Las Vegas and tickets to Lady Gaga in concert on December 16, 2017.

Visit StaplesForStudents.org starting June 25, 2017 for sweepstakes rules and to learn how to enter. Entries must be submitted before September 16, 2017 at 11:59 PM ET and entrants must be 13 years or older.

About Staples, Inc.
Staples brings technology and people together in innovative ways to consistently deliver products, services and expertise that elevate and delight customers. Staples is in business with businesses and is passionate about empowering people to become true professionals at work. Headquartered outside of Boston, Mass., Staples, Inc. operates primarily in North America, with additional offices in South America and Asia. More information about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

About Staples for Students
Staples has a long history of supporting students, teachers and classrooms. Staples for Students is an ongoing program that helps students and teachers with the school supplies and essential items needed to achieve success in education. The Staples for Students campaign has included school supply drives, support for teachers in classrooms, donations for education projects, classroom initiatives such as Designed by Students, and the sale of products that give back to communities and classrooms in need.

About DonorsChoose.org
DonorsChoose.org is the leading platform for giving to public schools. Teachers across America use the site to create projects requesting resources their students need, and donors give to the projects that inspire them. Since its founding by a Bronx teacher in 2000, more than 2 million people and partners have given $547 million to projects reaching 22 million students. Unique among crowdfunding platforms, the DonorsChoose.org team vets each project request and ships resources directly to the school. Every donor receives photos of their project in action, thank-yous from the classroom, and a cost report showing how every dollar was spent. DonorsChoose.org was the first charity to make the top 10 on Fast Company’s list of the Most Innovative Companies in the World. Visit www.donorschoose.org to learn more.

About Born This Way Foundation
Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2012 to support the wellness of young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world. Born This Way Foundation achieves this by shining a light on real people, quality research, and authentic partnerships. Working with more than 50 non-profit organizations, Born This Way Foundation has connected more than 150,000 young people with services and programing in their communities. Born This Way Foundation has also partnered with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to collect data from more than 10,000 young people, improving understanding of the factors that affect youth wellbeing and empowerment. Visit us at bornthisway.foundation.org.

Contact:
Carrie McElwee
508-253-1405
Carrie.McElwee@Staples.com
Corporate Service

Source: Staples, Inc.

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Office Depot enters exclusive licensing agreement with Centriq Technology to develop unique business application

BOCA RATON, Fla. & SAN FRANCISCO, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading provider of office products, services, and solutions, announced it is entering into an exclusive licensing agreement with Centriq Technology, Inc., to develop a unique business application utilizing their award-winning asset management platform.

“This exclusive agreement with Centriq is the first step in showing that we are moving toward a strategic transformation of our company outside of the traditional retail model,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer of Office Depot, Inc. “Centriq’s unique technology platform has many applications and we will leverage that technology to provide new services and an interactive sales experience for our customers beyond the traditional modes of selling paper, ink and toner.”

Centriq’s current application was named a game-changer as a home management resource. Centriq Home, available for iOS and Android, connects homeowners to product manufacturers for a greatly improved product experience. Centriq creates a single, comprehensive and personalized user guide for everything in their home. Support content, troubleshooting and parts and accessories purchases are available with a simple click. Users are also able to get rapid, on-site help from top-rated professionals, and access specific, highly relevant content from the Emmy-winning series, “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House,” directly through the app.

Office Depot will work with Centriq to develop a business to business version of their current app that will enable businesses to better manage their assets whether it be a printer, PC or another device all in one place. “The benefit for businesses is efficient management of their assets and retention of that knowledge all in the palm of their hand,” added Smith. “Through game-changing applications like this, we will differentiate Office Depot and provide value for our customers.”

“We couldn’t imagine a better partner than Office Depot for Centriq,” said James Sheppard, co-founder of Centriq. “We are delighted that they are licensing our core technology for their exciting vision to transform their business and industry.” Office Depot will also be a minority investor in Centriq, as it seeks to leverage emerging technologies to bring innovative solutions to the millions of small, medium and large customers it services today.

About Centriq:

Centriq is an early stage technology company that was founded in January 2015 by former digital innovation executives from Salesforce.com who were tired of the hassles of being a homeowner. Centriq is privately funded and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit www.centriqhome.com for more information, and download the free app on Google Play or the App Store.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school or car.

The company had 2016 annual sales of approximately $11 billion, employed approximately 38,000 associates, and served consumers and businesses in North America and abroad with approximately 1,400 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – with a global network of wholly owned operations, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot, OfficeMax and Grand & Toy. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL, Foray, Brenton Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and Highmark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ODP.”

Office Depot is a trademark of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax is a trademark of OMX, Inc. ©2017 Office Depot, Inc. All rights reserved. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:
AnneMarie Mathews
561-438-6710
Media Relations
AnnMarie.Mathews@officedepot.com

Centriq Technology, Inc.
James Sheppard
888-567-8118
Media Relations
media@centriqhome.com

Source: Office Depot, Inc.

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Lowe’s Canada announces the opening of new RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson store in Casselman

Boucherville, Quebec, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s Canada is proud to announce the opening of the fifth store belonging to its affiliate dealer RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson, located at 8 Racine Street in Casselman, Ontario. With this store, the team at RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson wishes to better serve the region of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, where demand from contractors is growing. Resulting from a $6 million investment, the new RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson store in Casselman has created 25 new jobs, bringing the total number of jobs across the company to 300. The store, which has a retail sales area of 12,000 square feet, also includes a lumber yard of 150,000 square feet, which will meet the specific needs of its customers.

“On behalf of myself and the entire division dedicated to RONA affiliate dealers at Lowe’s Canada, I am extremely proud to witness the success of RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson. With its robust and strategically planned growth – five stores and three divisions –, it is a perfect example of how opportunities are unlimited for ambitious entrepreneurs, thanks to the support of Lowe’s Canada, and we are pleased to contribute to the success of the team’s projects,” said Philippe Element, Divisional Vice-President, RONA Affiliate Dealer Sales and Services, at Lowe’s Canada.

“We are a dynamic and fast-growing team that thrives on challenges! RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson has a vision for growth, and in the past five years, we have more than doubled our sales. We know that Lowe’s Canada is proud of our development and believes in entrepreneurs like us. Their support is dear to us,” said Éric and Stéphane Bailey, co-owners of the five RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson stores.

In addition to serving retail customers, RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson specializes in serving general and specialized contractors, mainly in the residential and commercial sectors. Self-builders also make up an important segment of its customer base. To ensure the satisfaction of its customers, RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson relies on flexible, precise and fast service at each stage of their projects. The team understands the issues associated with construction sites, and therefore knows how to help contractors make their projects profitable.

Matériaux Pont-Masson was founded in 1979 by Richard Bailey, father of current co-owners Éric and Stéphane Bailey. The company joined the RONA family in 1996. Richard Bailey continues to work for the company as an advisor to the management. Like the other four RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson stores, the Casselman store will offer a complete engineering and estimation service, a financing service, a sales office exclusively for contractors and self-builders, along with a lumber yard with an extensive inventory. The usual services of the RONA banner (delivery, cutting, paint recovery, etc.) will also be available.

The four other RONA Matériaux Pont-Masson stores are located in Valleyfield, Rigaud and Mirabel, Quebec, and in Alfred, Ontario. In addition to its five stores, Matériaux Pont-Masson also consists of three divisions: Matériaux Design, a showroom for interior and exterior home finishes; Arctic Supplies, a division for exporting to the Far North; and Structure du Nord, a factory for manufacturing roof trusses.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service 2,365 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operate or service over 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil, Dick’s Lumber and Ace. In Canada, the companies have more than 25,000 employees, in addition to nearly 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA’s independent affiliate dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Valérie Gonzalo
Media Relations
Lowe’s Canada – RONA
Tel 514.626.6976
media@rona.ca

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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The new model of Lowe’s stores opens in Canada

Boucherville, Quebec, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (June 22, 2017), Lowe’s Canada opened its first store under the new model of Lowe’s stores in Canada which offers an enhanced shopping experience. The store, located at 9603 165 Ave NW in Edmonton was converted from the former RONA Home and Garden, and was designed by taking the best of Lowe’s and RONA’s offering, to create the new model of Lowe’s stores.

“The conversion of our Edmonton store marks the evolution of the Lowe’s Big Box in Canada, says Jim Caldwell, Executive Vice President, Lowe’s Big Box Retail. “We are thrilled to offer this new shopping experience for our customers by taking the best of what both banners have to offer to create a new Lowe’s Big Box model. The Edmonton North location marks many firsts for Lowe’s on the Contractor side that will significantly benefit our Commercial customers with enhanced offers in product, pricing, services and financing.”

The store underwent an extensive 16-week physical transformation from the former RONA which involved construction, departmental sequencing of new racking and re-merchandising, branding and IT conversion, as well as a significant investment in our people with extensive training that is focused on new product knowledge and customer service.

New Retail Experience

The new Edmonton North Lowe’s will offer a new retail experience including:

  • A wider assortment of Seasonal products such as Patio, Holiday and Halloween including the latest fashion trends.
  • The introduction of entirely new product categories including Appliances, Lowe’s private labels, and top brands such as John Deere, Husqvarna, and Cub Cadet.
  • Broader selection of Fashion Plumbing products such as tubs, showers, toilets, vanities, sinks and faucets with the introduction of high profile brands such as Kohler and Grohe.
  • Incredible floor displays featuring the latest fashions in wood flooring and tiles – larger displays allow customers to better visualize their projects. Also, eye level displays allow the customer to better experience the texture of flooring products.
  • Access to more than 100,000 products on www.lowes.ca

Enhanced Contractor Experience

The new Edmonton North location marks an enhanced shopping experience for Commercial customers including:

  • The introduction of the Contractor Rewards Program (i.e. loyalty and pricing program)
  • Access to a drive through lumber yard – a first for Lowe’s in Canada – where contractors can load their vehicles directly to save time, as well as have access to a broader lumber assortment.
  • The Edmonton North store will be the first Lowe’s store in Canada to introduce charge accounts that will allow Commercial customers to make purchases at any RONA Corporate store in Western Canada, as well as at this new model Lowe’s store in Edmonton. Customers will receive only ‘one’ monthly invoice for all purchases made from these stores.
  • Introduction of corporately owned and operated delivery truck at the Edmonton North store to provide a more personalized level of service for deliveries to Contractors – another first for Lowe’s in Canada.
  • Enhanced assortment in key contractor categories including lumber, building materials, millwork, tools, hardware, etc.

The new Edmonton North Lowe’s marks the company’s 57th store in Canada under the Lowe’s banner and the banner’s fifth Lowe’s location in the Edmonton market. The store represents an approximate local investment in excess of $8.6 million and created 46 new jobs – in total the store employs 143 permanent positions with an additional 30 seasonal roles.

The store will offer about 40,000 products in-stock to meet customers’ home improvement needs, and features approximately 73,000 square feet of retail sales space, an adjacent Garden Centre which includes approximately 28,000 square feet, a covered lumberyard of 14,000 square feet, and an additional outdoor drive thru lumberyard of 24,000 square feet.

Today, local dignitaries and Lowe’s executives joined employees from the store to celebrate the grand opening through an official board cutting ceremony and community grant presentation. Lowe’s donated $5,000 to the John Bosco Child and Family Services Foundation to support renovations and improvements to the rental facilities that are provided to select organizations and agencies concerned with the welfare of vulnerable children, youth and adults.

Grand Opening Events

Grand opening activities for the new store will continue throughout Monday where customers can enjoy free sessions, giveaways and contests including:

  • Children’s Workshop for families on Saturday June 24th at 10:00 a.m.
  • Interactive autograph signing and Q&A session with HGTV’s Bryan Baeumler on Saturday June 24th from 10am-12pm.
  • Giveaways including: Purdy Paint Kit (first 100 customers Friday only), free Lowe’s $25 gift card (first 200 customers Saturday only), and a Sylvania A19 LED 60-Watt Light Bulb (first 1,000 customers Sunday only).
  • Customers can also enter to win 1 of 4 Grand Prizes.
  • Contractor exclusive VIP event on Monday June 26th from 12:00-2:00 p.m. There will be a draw to win 1 of 3 $250 Lowe’s gift cards and Contractors can fill out a ballot to win 1 of 4 Tool prizes. To register, Contractors can call the store at 780-406-8600 and ask to speak with the Contractor Specialist to request an invite.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service 2,365 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operate or service over 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil, Dick’s Lumber and Ace. In Canada, the companies have more than 25,000 employees, in addition to nearly 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA’s independent affiliate dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Valérie Gonzalo
Media Relations
Lowe’s Canada – RONA
Tel 514.626.6976
media@rona.ca

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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Al-Futtaim Automall opens new super site at Dubai Festival City

Al-Futtaim Automall opens new super site at Dubai Festival City

 

Dubai, UAE, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Al-Futtaim Automall, the largest retailer of pre-owned vehicles in the UAE, has announced the opening of a new super site at Dubai Festival City that will display over 400 cars.

Customers looking to buy good quality used cars can head to the new 12,000 sqm site, located opposite IKEA and alongside ACE, where they can view the widest range of pre-owned vehicles from all leading manufacturers including Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Dodge, Ford, Mitsubishi, Chevrolet, Jeep and luxury models including BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche amongst others.

Declan McCluskey, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Automall, said: “Right from day one, Automall has always been about providing customers with the widest choice of good quality used cars and a memorable shopping experience. Today, we’ve taken this promise a step further by opening our new super site which accommodates over 400 cars in one location thereby ensuring there is something for every customer’s budget and needs.”

Cars sold at Automall are no more than five years old and have not exceeded 75,000 km. A comprehensive 99-point check is carried out on each car before being sold and the Al-Futtaim company also provides a comprehensive warranty for additional security and peace of mind for the customer.

For more information, call the new showroom today on 600 567 005 or visit http://www.automalluae.com/.

Source: Al-Futtaim Automall

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Weis Markets the title sponsor of this year’s Dundalk Heritage Fair

Weis Markets the title sponsor of this year’s Dundalk Heritage Fair

 

Dundalk, MD, 2017-Jun-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Weis Markets recently donated $20,000 to the Dundalk Heritage Fair and will be the title sponsor of this year’s fair. Three Weis Markets managers presented the Dundalk Heritage Fair Association with a sponsorship check Friday, June 16.

“Weis Markets is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and is pleased to continue the great partnership with the Dundalk Community Fair,” said Rob Santoni, Jr., Weis Markets Store Manager.

The Weis Markets locations on Holabird Ave. and Wise Ave. will play significant roles during the Heritage Fair and July Fourth festivities. Weis managers will be present at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday June 30 at 7 p.m.  and will also take part in the Fourth of July Parade and provide post-race refreshments after the 6k road race prior to the parade.

“This is Dundalk’s Super Bowl” said Bill Siegmund, Store Manager of the Essex location.  “I am proud to play a role in the festivities as a member of the Weis family.”

Source:  Weis Markets

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