Microsoft Squares Off With Apple In Gadget Store Showdown George Anderson / Forbes Microsoft’s close proximity to the Apple store at the Mall of America may be like drafting behind Lance Armstrong, or eating his dust. In a July RetailWire poll, 54% of respondents thought Microsoft’s move into operating its own retail stores was a […]

Holiday Jewelry Buying Guide Sarah Morgan / SmartMoney Call it the Beyonce effect. In spite of the sluggish economy and the tight job market, more consumers say they’d like someone to put a ring on it this holiday season. Jewelry ranks higher on holiday wish lists than laptops, smartphones, digital cameras or TVs, according to […]

Microsoft takes aim at Apple with store New megamall shop debuts Nov. 6, across the hall from rival Julio Ojeda-Zapata / Pioneer Press The opening of another local retail store for tech shoppers Nov. 6 will have familiar elements: Grinning employees in colorful T-shirts high-fiving their first customers; cheering and chanting in the final seconds […]

A Cure for Ailing Retail Property Shopping centers that open their doors to medical tenants may benefit Jeff Green Some of the most-profitable health-care businesses aren’t in the traditional venues of medical-office buildings and hospital campuses. Rather, they’re found in neighborhood shopping centers, sandwiched between sub shops, clothing stores, dry cleaners and the like. It’s […]

On Track for Success Connie Robbins Gentry / Chain Store Age (Oct. 1) Call it the Phoenix syndrome: Out of the ashes of the Great Recession, dynamic and relevant retail concepts are emerging and expanding. “We’ve had a couple of years to regroup and prepare. Now there is pent-up energy and enthusiasm, so we will […]

Gottschalks’ return now set for spring Tim Sheehan / The Modesto Bee FRESNO — Plans to resurrect the Gottschalks retail brand with a new department-store chain are being pushed back until next spring instead of the Nov. 1 opening promised earlier this year. Veteran retailer Joe Levy, chairman of the new Gottschalk by Joe Levy, […]