Ace Express Stores for smaller spaces

The following article appeared in the latest edition of Chain Store Age. It continues a direction that more retailers are going to follow with the increase in online shopping and expense of brick & mortar locations but filling the need for necessary items at a more convenient proximity:

Ace Hardware launches 'Express' store format for smaller spaces

JULY 16, 2012 | BY MARIANNE WILSON

Oakbrook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware has launched an “Express” format for both current Ace retailers and other business owners seeking to integrate the Ace brand into their existing offerings. The new, more compact stores average 5,000-sq.-ft. or less, and include customized merchandising displays and stock more than 11,000 of the most popular and profitable hardware products.

“At this time, there are nearly 400 successful Ace Hardware retail locations operating within less than 5,000 sq. ft., and the consistent high performance of these stores proved we had an incredible opportunity to create a specialized, smaller-format Ace retail model,” said Mike Berschauer, director, retail development, Ace Hardware Corp. “Our goal is both to drive incremental store growth for Ace and to mirror the ‘best in class’ offerings available at our larger stores. Essentially we’re providing the same top-notch brands and exceptional customer service, but just in a smaller space.”

The Ace Hardware “Express” format makes it possible for Ace to continue growing share in markets that aren’t able to accommodate additional full-size retail locations and is ideal for the following retail scenarios:

Ace will provide incentives of up to $150,000 to retailers utilizing the “Express” format. In addition, the company has created a variety of tailored resources to support these retailers – including merchandise profile guides, plan-o-grams to ensure that product selection is “shoppable” for customers, customized fixtures to create space efficiencies and a variety of incentive programs.

In addition, the in-stock product selection at “Express” format locations will mirror that available in a larger store model.

Currently, there are “Express” format Ace Hardware locations in six states across the United States – including Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

New Zara Flagship Store in Manhattan

Zara has opened a new flagship store in Manhattan on Fifth Avenue at 52nd. It is their largest store in the United States and has many new eco-friendly features in addition to a stunning black and white interior. For more information, take a look at this article in Chain Store Age for more information

.Specific eco-friendly features include:

Motion detectors in the storeroom dim the area's lights by 80% when no one is present. Motion detectors for lighting are also installed in restrooms and back-of-store corridors.
The lighting dims to 66% of normal during janitorial and merchandise loading and unloading shifts.
Electronically regulated air curtains at store entrances prevent the influx of colder or hotter air from outside.
Speed-controlled mechanical escalators help reduce energy.
Energy-intensive systems are turned on in a sequential pattern to prevent demand spikes

Clean New Store: Primark Edinburgh Scotland

Primark is a department store retailer in Scotland that opened a new location in Edinburgh. What I like about this particular shop are the clean lines of the displays, graphics and merchandisers. It would be a very easy store to shop yet gives an upscale feeling at not so upscale pricing structure. More pictures of this store are available at DDI Store Design blog.

Apartment 32....new retail concept

New York retailer, Weatherproof, has opened a new store based on replicating a 2,000 sf Manhattan apt. Customers are encourage to leave their Blackberrys at the door in order to experience a more relaxed, electronic free environment during their visit. The entire article and more photos are available in the latest edition of Chain Store Age.

Cellular Connection Stores..design highlights

Cellular Connection is a chain of 600 stores across 26 states. Their take on cellphone displays is interactive for the customers and excellent customer service. Check out the rest of the photos in Retail Customer Experience for more information and photos.

Fred Meyer creates first LEED certified store in Kroger group

Fred Meyer has attained a Silver LEED certification for it's remodel of their Hawthorne store (from DDI Magazine) in Portland Oregon. This is a first for any Kroger store in the country. The architect for this store is MulvanneyG2 Architecture.

Steve Jobs Influence on Retail

This is a very good article that was written in Retail Customer Experience.com about the influence of Steve Jobs on his thoughts and influence on retail store design. The customer experience from entering the store through checkout is all targeted to the same fluid flow and resulting loyalty.