Mall operator Simon revealed big plans to expand its Woodbury Common Premium Outlet center in Fall 2023, including the addition of 155,000 square feet of retail stores and restaurants, a 200-key luxury hotel, a second parking facility and upgraded amenities. To cement the center’s image as a luxury destination, the first enhancement will be a VIP Suite featuring multiple private spaces with their own dressing rooms, an upscale lounge area and a private kitchen. The VIP Suite, which is expected to open later in 2024 in the center’s luxury wing, The Adirondacks District, also will host private ..read more

Spanish-language media and content company TelevisaUnivision has partnered with Shopsense AI to make some of its programming, on both linear and streaming platforms, shoppable.   Using onscreen QR codes and dedicated URLs, the Shopsense technology makes onscreen content shoppable via mobile devices by directing viewers to a show-specific digital store. The partnership will kick off with the Latin American Music Awards, airing live tonight on Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavision and ViX. For the awards, TelevisaUnivision and Shopsense have launched four curated collections tailored to distinct t ..read more

Membership programs are quickly becoming 2024’s hottest accessory, whether you’re a luxury resale platform or an electronics ecommerce site. Online marketplaces Rebag and Newegg have joined the growing roster of retailers launching membership programs. This year alone, the list of retailers that have launched or beefed up their loyalty and membership programs includes Albertsons, Carter’s, PetSmart, Target, Sunglass Hut, Staples, Lowe’s, Ulta Beauty and CVS. Rebag+ Membership Operates as Installment Purchase Plan Image courtesy Newegg The new Rebag+ mem ..read more

Best Buy and media site CNET will work together to provide shoppers with experts’ picks and product reviews throughout their purchasing journey. The retailer and tech publisher’s new partnership also will allow advertisers to share ad spaces across both ecosystems, allowing them to see the impact of their campaigns through a full-funnel, closed-loop media solution. Best Buy and CNET have a combined, unduplicated reach of 50 million unique visitors per month. “When shopping for technology, we know that many consumers like to do their own research and turn to Best Buy and CNET to help them expl ..read more

This is the first part of our two-part series, “From Self-Checkout to Just Walk Out: A Look at Autonomous Retail Experiences.” In part one we go beyond the headlines to uncover the reality of the self-checkout situation. Part two will examine the feasibility of more autonomous checkout solutions, including Just Walk Out-style tech and smart carts. Headlines like “Self-Checkout is a Failed Experiment” and “Why Retailers are Losing Faith in Self-Checkout” have been plentiful these past few months, along with story after story of big-name retailers like Target, Walmart, Dollar General and Costco ..read more

Retail media networks (RMNs) are rapidly becoming one of the most lucrative digital ad formats, with predictions suggesting that by 2028, RMNs will contribute to 15.4% of all ad revenue, outpacing television advertising. How can retailers capitalize on this shift and the emerging market opportunities? Here are four ways retailers can enhance the efficacy of their retail media network and boost profitability in the process: Venturing into Untapped Markets While some markets are already reaping the benefits of RMNs, some regions have yet to fully embrace this trend. This opens up a significant ..read more

Foot Locker has unveiled its new store format, which includes a communal sneaker try-on area to facilitate “sneaker culture” conversations and technology that provides store associates with omnichannel inventory availability data. The retailer plans to use learnings from this store, located in the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J., for additional reinvented stores it will open in 2024, including at the brand’s NYC flagship and locations in Paris, Melbourne and Delhi. The new location features a bold storefront, expanded footwear and accessory selections and an emphasis on sustainability and dyn ..read more

In what has become a recurring plotline, Google has once again delayed third-party cookie deprecation on its Chrome web browser. Previously scheduled to be completed by the second half of Q4 2024, Google now anticipates the change will take place sometime in 2025. This marks the third time Google has pushed back the timeline on cookie deprecation, plans for which were first announced in January 2020, when the company committed to removing tracking tech from Chrome within two years. But January 2022 has come and gone, and cookies are still a part of daily life. The latest delay comes after UK ..read more

Beleaguered retailer Big Lots has increased its borrowing capacity by up to $200 million with a new “first in, last out” term loan facility, secured through an affiliate of Gordon Brothers Capital. The move “significantly enhances the company’s liquidity position and is incremental to the borrowing capacity within the company’s current $900 million asset-based revolving loan facility,” according to a Big Lots statement. Big Lots had a difficult fiscal year 2023, which ended Feb. 3, 2024. Net sales declined 13.6%, falling from $5.5 billion for FY 2022 to $4.7 billion for FY 2023. The company’s ..read more

Footwear brand Kizik partnered with MG2 on a pop-up concept in New York City’s SoHo to gauge market demand. The people have obviously spoken, because the brand has decided to extend the pop-up through Memorial Day. Originally slated to run for one weekend (April 19-21), the Greene Street pop-up is the first physical manifestation of Kizik’s new brand identity and “motion is magic” tagline. As a result, the companies have intentionally made motion a driving force of the space — and the shopper journey. From the front window, passersby see a conveyor belt shoe display that then brings them to ..read more