Seattle — Veeve Inc., a leading retail technology startup, has formed an agreement with Albertsons Companies that will make Veeve Smart Carts available to customers at a few dozen stores across the country. Once launched later this year, consumers will be able to use the smart carts to skip the checkout line with a fast, convenient and contactless way to shop. Veeve Smart Carts feature a touch screen that provides a running total for in-cart items and a built-in scale for easy produce purchase. The tech-enhanced carts will also integrate …
retailers
Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s plans to increase its investment in brick-and-mortar with the addition of 100 new, smaller-format locations over the next 4 years in previously untapped markets. This expansion follows the pilot of 20 stores featuring the company’s smaller-format design, which averages around 35,000 square feet versus the traditional 80,000-square-foot iteration. In June, the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based company will be opening a smaller-format shop in Bonney Lake, Wash., and in the fall, stores are set to open in San Angelo, Texas; Morgantown, W.Va.; Tacoma, Wash.; and Lenox, Mass. …
La Habra, Calif. — Howard’s, Southern California’s premier independent appliance retailer, has added Joy Banducci and Daryl Massy to its senior leadership team. Banducci joins the company as chief financial officer & technology officer, and Massy as senior vice president & chief merchant. “Banducci brings more than 20 years of experience in finance, systems, IT and project management/operations,” says John Riddle, CEO of Howard’s. She comes to the company from Swann Communications where she served as CFO. Swann Communications is a global leader in smart home security systems that partners …
North Hampton, N.H. — Mill 77 Holdings LLC is expanding its Mill 77 Exchange brand, enlarging its New England footprint with a new flagship store in North Hampton, N.H. This new location, a former Staples building, spans 20,000 square feet and is the brand’s largest location yet. This addition is the fifth location of the Mill 77 Brand of home furniture and décor. “There’s no doubt that our new flagship store in New Hampshire is the look and feel of our future,” says founder Gary Bergeron. “Today’s customer is looking …
Seattle — REI Co-op has made two additions to its senior leadership team. Sylvia Wilks joined REI on May 23 as the company’s first senior vice president, chief supply chain officer. Minnie Alexander will begin her role as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary on May 31. “Sylvia and Minnie join our team from customer-centric organizations that are deeply focused on creating best-in-class experiences. Their talent will help REI deliver on our promise to inspire and enable a life outside for everyone by serving our members, employees and broader …
Corte Madera, Calif. — RH has opened RH San Francisco, The Gallery at the Historic Bethlehem Steel Building, the crown jewel of Pier 70 and gateway to what was once one of the country’s most storied shipyards. RH San Francisco continues the brand’s foray into hospitality with The Palm Court Restaurant, a new live-fire concept set within an atrium of glass and steel with Medjool date palms and featuring two wine bars at its dual entrances — plus a landscaped Rooftop Park with views of the city skyline, Bay and …
San Francisco — On May 20, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company reopened its flagship Chocolate Experience Store, located in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square. The space is designed to elevate the customer experience and provides new and exciting ways to celebrate the true craftmanship of chocolate making. “We are thrilled to unveil the Chocolate Experience Store to our community of chocolate lovers and hometown of San Francisco,” says Justin Reese, vice president of retail and e-commerce at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. “Our premium chocolate, the historic architecture and the stunning views, have made Ghirardelli …
— By Meg Mason — How Lowe’s has reduced water use and its carbon footprint with smart irrigation. Lowe’s is focused on reducing its environmental impact while also increasing the efficiency of its operations. To address these goals, Lowe’s installed HydroPoint smart irrigation controllers to optimize landscape irrigation at more than 900 of its stores. Each year, the controllers reduce water use at these facilities by about 650 million gallons, saving Lowe’s an estimated $5 million in total water costs.1 Because water treatment and pumping use a lot of …
New York City — Century 21 is making a New York City comeback, relaunching the beloved institution in spring 2023 at its flagship location downtown across from the World Trade Center. The iconic retailer and purveyor of off-price luxury fashion has teamed with global premium experiences company Legends to introduce a revitalized shopping experience to Century 21’s faithful local — and global — fans. For more than 60 years, Century 21 has been synonymous with value and luxury, offering an exceptional assortment of designer brands at unbeatable prices. With an …
Chicago — On May 17, Crate & Barrel opened a new culinary destination, CrateKitchen, to inspire cooking and entertaining for the modern kitchen and table. Located at the brand’s headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., CrateKitchen will open its doors to customers and a diverse range of influencers and chefs through virtual gatherings, styling sessions, product demos and a shoppable kitchen tour curated to support the ways people use their kitchens. “The kitchen has become the center of our homes and CrateKitchen celebrates the versatility of how our customers use their space,” …