Industry Headlines: January 5
- Same-store sales seen up 4.3 percent in December: Looks like last-second shoppers saved Christmas for many US retailers. (Reuters)
- Strip malls to be stripped down in international touring design contest: The strip mall is a retail segment that’s been badly neglected in recent years. Can it rise again? (Winnipeg Free Press)
- Gift cards will extend retailers’ holiday cheer: Another year, another big uptick in gift card sales. It means a hit for the holidays, but more shoppers in the always tough January. (LA Times)
- Sears to close 100+ stores: Another blow the department store anchors. (Desert Sun)
- Drake Rumor Caused Mall of America Fight: We all know celebrity appearances can cause chaos, but simple unfounded rumors can too? Ouch. (ShalomLife)
- Why Best Buy is Going out of Business…Gradually: Batten down the hatches, apparently we’re losing another one. (Forbes)
- Dollar General to add 6,000 jobs in 2012: Dollar General may save the day with 625 new stores this year alone. (Knox News)
- U.S. is top 2012 property investment pick: Brazil is catching up, however. (CNBC)
- Top 10 luxury marketing ideas in 2011: The luxury world was abuzz with new ideas, mostly on the web. (Luxury Daily)
- Man vs. Machine: A look at the future of the self-checkout. (Stores)
- A shopping season full of surprises: 5 ways the holiday season turned away from expectations. (Star Tribune)
