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Store Expansion News: August update. Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in August with store expansion plans and new formats. Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent. - Activate Games opens largest location to date - here's where Activate Games, which describes itself as the world's first "active-gaming experience," opened a 14,814-sq.-ft. location in New York City's Union Square neighborhood. It's the company's second location in the state, with the first at Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City (on Long Island). - Bass Pro Shops plots expansion in Texas The outdoor retailer, known for its immersive retail destinations, plans to open a 100,000-sq.-ft. store in College Station, Texas, adjacent to the future South College Station baseball and softball complex. The news follows Bass Pro's recent growth in the Lone Star State, including newly-opened locations in Odessa, Tyler, Spring and Grand Prairie, along with a planned location expected to open in early 2027 in Abilene. - Build-A-Bear fires chief growth officer as earnings, sales fall; opening 50 stores Despite reporting disappointing results for its second quarter amid declines in online and store traffic, the experiential retailer continues to expect net new unit growth of at least 50 stores this year through a combination of corporately-managed, partner-operated and franchise business models. Build-A-Bear currently operates more than 670 global locations. - Primark continues U.S. expansion with Georgia debut The global value fashion and home retailer will make its Georgia debut on Sept. 8, opening a store at the super-regional Sugarloaf Mills outlet center in Lawrenceville, a northeastern suburb of Atlanta. The brand will also open a second Georgia location in Augusta on Sept. 10, at Augusta Mall. The openings bring Primark's U.S. footprint to 48 locations. - Korean accessories brand N.Cat opens first U.S. store - with another on the way Fashion accessories brand N.Cat has officially entered the U.S. retail market with its first brick-and-mortar location at the Del Amo Fashion Center regional mall in Torrance, Calif. The store features a wide variety of Korean fashion accessories, including jewelry, hair accessories, bags and lifestyle essentials. N.Cat is also preparing to open its second U.S. location at Brea Mall in Brea, Calif., in September. - Ross Stores earnings, sales soar in Q2; 115 new stores planned in 2026 Ross Stores opened 47 new stores during the second quarter, including 35 Ross and 12 DD's Discounts. Based on strong performance, the company is increasing its 2026 store opening plans to 115 new locations from its previously announced 110 new stores. These will consist of approximately 90 Ross Dress for Less and 25 DD's Discounts stores. - Shipley Donuts to make Michigan debut with 15-unit agreement The Houston-based donut chain will make its Michigan debut in Metro Detroit through a 15-unit franchise agreement with Hole Lotta Dough LLC. Shipley Donuts will open its locations across Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, with the first location planned for late Q1 2027. - Indochino making big investment in standalone retail - here are locations The digitally-native made-to-measure apparel company plans to open 10 new showrooms across the United States. Six locations are confirmed for early 2027, with four additional showrooms slated to open in mid to late 2027. The store will feature Indochino's new smaller footprint, which is less than about 1,000 square feet. - Bealls plots 2026/2027 store expansion - here's where The Florida-based off-price retailer plans to open 25 new stores across 12 states in fall 2026 and spring 2027. The expansion includes Bealls' first-ever store in Michigan, with five locations planned for the state. - Fabletics in new store push - in U.S. and abroad The digitally-native, tech-savvy activewear brand is accelerating its global growth strategy with plans to triple its international footprint in 2026 and open approximately 20 new stores over the next 12 months. The expansion will bring Fabletics into several new markets throughout this year and next, including India, the UAE, Colombia, Peru and across Central America. Related retail news. * Store Expansion News: July update Welcome to Store Expansion News, Chain Store Age's monthly roundup of brick-and-mortar expansion plans across the retail industry. * Real Estate Roundup: July update July had its fair share of retail real estate development news, tenant updates, acquisitions and more.

Bealls Inc. boosts clearance sales by 25% after partnering with Oracle. July 14, 2026 In today's competitive retail landscape, small businesses must navigate a myriad of challenges, from fluctuating consumer demands to complex inventory management. One notable innovation aimed at addressing these challenges is Bealls Inc.'s recent implementation of Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization (LPO). This strategic move illustrates how small and mid-sized retailers can enhance profit margins and streamline pricing strategies, which are paramount for growth. Bealls, a family-owned retailer with a legacy dating back to 1915, serves customers nationwide through over 660 locations. Traditionally, the company relied on generic time-based markdown schedules. However, these fixed discount strategies often failed to consider individual item performance, sometimes resulting in lost revenue. By adopting Oracle's LPO, Bealls has shifted towards a more dynamic approach that leverages real-time data, improving pricing accuracy and customer satisfaction. Discover more Business Finance Tools Inventory Management Tools Ron Friese, Bealls' Senior Vice President and Chief AI Officer, notes, "Not every item behaves the same way once it enters clearance. To create better opportunities for our customers and our bottom line, we needed to stop treating all products the same." This sentiment underscores the necessity of personalized, data-driven strategies in today's retail environment. The benefits of implementing such a tailored pricing solution are manifold. Small business owners can expect to gain actionable insights that support decision-making in various areas. For instance, LPO integrates diverse data sources and utilizes advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize pricing throughout a product's lifecycle, from launch to clearance. This means marketers and inventory planners can focus on strategic decisions rather than bogging down in manual adjustments to pricing. In the past year, this innovative strategy has already shown remarkable results for Bealls, leading to a 25% increase in clearance sales dollars. Such outcomes emphasize the tangible financial benefits of harnessing technology for pricing optimization. Jim Kelly, SVP of North America Retail Applications at Oracle, emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making: "The retailers that will outperform in the years ahead are those that can turn data into action faster and more effectively than their competitors." However, as with any strategy, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. Transitioning to an AI-driven pricing model requires reliable data inputs. For businesses that previously relied on spreadsheets and static pricing models, the shift to an AI-supported setup may necessitate time and resources for retraining and adapting workflows. Thus, it is crucial to assess whether the current technological foundation can support such a transition. Moreover, retailers must remain vigilant about market dynamics and customer behavior. While optimizing clearance pricing is certainly beneficial, it should not overshadow the critical importance of understanding broader consumer trends. For small businesses operating under tight margins, any inefficiency can significantly impact the bottom line. Oracle LPO's integration builds upon Bealls' existing partnership with Oracle, which includes tools for inventory management and financial applications. By enhancing their current solutions, small retailers can streamline various operational aspects leading to faster decision-making and improved customer experiences. Discover more Business & Industrial MLM & Business Opportunities Business & Corporate Law For small business owners contemplating similar upgrades, the experience of Bealls provides a compelling case study. Implementing advanced analytics and AI in their pricing strategy could yield improved profitability and allow more room for creative pricing tactics. As competition intensifies in the retail sector, making data-driven decisions may well become a key differentiator. Embracing technology like Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization represents not just an opportunity for profitability but also a pathway to more sustainable growth. By refining pricing strategies based on real-time demand signals and inventory levels, small retailers can better align their offerings with customer expectations and market trends. The advancements made by Bealls with Oracle's LPO serve as a reminder that adding smart, data-driven tools can lead to substantial benefits in both sales performance and operational efficiency. Retailers looking to thrive in an omnichannel environment must consider evolving their processes to keep pace with an ever-changing marketplace. For more details, visit the original press release at Oracle's website. David Wilson is a technology writer and IT consultant with a passion for helping small businesses leverage digital tools for growth. With over 15 years of experience in software development and tech support, David specializes in simplifying complex tech concepts for business owners. He has contributed to several tech publications, sharing insights on cybersecurity, cloud computing, and emerging digital trends. David's practical advice empowers entrepreneurs to make informed technology decisions. When he's not exploring the latest gadgets, David enjoys building model airplanes and perfecting his barbecue recipes.

Bealls has appointed David N. Brown as vice president of stores, where he will oversee store operations nationally for the Bradenton, Florida-based retailer. Brown brings over 25 years of retail leadership experience, having held key positions at Ross Dress for Less and Target. Most recently, he served as regional vice president at Ross, where his regions led the company in shrink results and consistently ranked as top performers in sales and contribution. Founded in 1915, Bealls operates more than 650 stores across 22 states under the Bealls, Bealls Florida and Home Centric banners, generating annual sales exceeding $2 billion. The family-owned company remains privately held by descendants of founder Robert Beall.