Page 11 - February #178

NEWS INBRIEF

CONN’S OPENS NEWEST STORE
TARGET COMPLETES PRODUCTIVE 2022 The specialty retailer of furniture, appliances and
consumer electronics has opened the doors to a
WITH 23 STORE OPENINGS 30,000sq ft showroom in Jacksonville - its 15th
store in Florida. The new location in the Sunshine
The discounter has a proven strategy — State now gives Conn’s a total of 167 stores
design and location plus ease, inspiration across 15 states. Meanwhile back in August, the
and relevance — to build stores that work brand stated a pilot concept in five Belk stores.
in and also for the community, the company
said. Target put that formula to work across PROVENCE BEAUTY MAKES DEBUT
a variety of neighbourhoods and building The new conscious skincare brand, has debuted at Ulta
footprints in 2022, from suburban hubs to city Beauty, in-store and online to mark its first foray into the
centers, from Wyoming to Florida. US beauty market. The French-born beauty company is
In all, Target opened 23 new locations last looking to bring “accessible modernised French skincare to
year. The openings brought the company into the masses,” with its range of clean, vegan and sustainable
three new markets: Jackson Hole, Wyoming; French skincare staples at an accessible price point of 25
Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Auburn, Maine. US dollars or less.
Target also opened a small-format store in
Charleston, South Carolina, within footsteps
of the College of Charleston campus. FIVE BELOW SET FOR GROWTH
In addition to an updated in-store The company has laid out its ambitious store
experience, Target’s new locations have been plans for 2023. The discounter has said it plans
built to connect with their communities to open the stores in its history - more than 200
through design. locations - in fiscal 2023. It also plans to convert
ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS TO more than 400 stores to its new “Five Beyond”
banner, which contains an in-store shop featuring
CONTINUE STORE EXPANSION IN 2023 higher-priced items.

Academy Sports + Outdoors is growing its private label brands Magellan Outdoors, EXPANSION FOR FOCUS BRANDS
footprint in Indiana. Freely, H2OX, R.O.W., BCG and Mosaic. Focus Brands has big plans for streetside, multi-
The sporting goods and outdoor “We’re excited to be a new destination branded restaurants. The restaurant giant has
recreation retailer will open its first location for the Lafayette community to find signed agreements to open more than 50 dual and
in Lafayette, Indiana at Lafayette Pavilions in everything they need to pursue their tri-branded locations in the coming year and many
the spring of 2023. The 60,000sq ft store will sports and outdoors passions with top of these will be drive-thrus. To date, the company
be Academy Sports’ fourth location in the national brands like Nike, Adidas, Yeti, has launched over 175 dual-branded units with
Hoosier State. Columbia, Carhartt and many more,” said another 65 in development.
In April 2022, Academy opened its Sam Johnson, Academy’s Executive VP of
first new store in two years, in Conyers, Retail Operations. “At Academy Sports +
Georgia. The company plans to continue its Outdoors we deliver fun, great value and BABIES”R”US TO MAKE COMEBACK
expansion efforts with the goal of opening unmatched service that makes it easier for The brand is on course to open its first US store under its
a total of 80 to 100 new stores by the end Boilermaker fans to gear up for gameday, new owners. The baby products retailer, which went out of
of 2026. kids to play ball, hunters to prepare for deer business in 2018, will open a flagship at American Dream,
The location will carry a wide assortment season and active families to find the apparel the massive three million square feet plus entertainment
of sports and outdoors products, with an and shoes they want.” and retail centre in East Rutherford, New Jersey this
assortment from top brands that include The retailer aims to empower, encourage summer.. The flagship will include a full range of products
Nike, Adidas, Columbia, The North Face, and connect with its communities and and services along with interactive experiences.
Wolverine, Berkley, Winchester, Chubbies schools through local efforts such as sports
and Under Armour, along with Academy programming and field and stream activities.

FEBRUARY 2023 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 11