“This project is just another example of the mayor’s ongoing commitment to revitalizing our urban core,” City Manager Bruce Rudd said. “This corner lot has sat lifeless for several years and the future retail space planned for this site will have an enormous impact on quality of the surrounding area.”

Centrally located, the Mid State Shopping Center is an ideal location for a Vallarta Supermarket serving customers on both sides of Highway 99.  Vallarta’s confidence in Fresno is demonstrated in its commitment to serve as the anchor tenant of a brand-new shopping center and investing in the new construction of a building rather than renovating a previously occupied space.

“My office has worked closely with the Noyan Company on several projects in District One,” Council Member Blong Xiong said. “Helping them secure Vallarta Supermarket for the Clinton and Weber project is by far one of the most satisfying.  For almost eight years we’ve known this development would revitalize the area and the supermarket will provide a much needed service to the area.”

Vallarta Supermarkets offer a wide variety of Latin foods and products which can only be found at its stores including meat cut to order Latin style, spices, hot foods ready to eat, sweet breads made daily, and fresh produce in addition to other products carried at traditional grocery stores.

The future Mid State Shopping Center will stand at approximately 85,000 square feet with Vallarta Supermarket occupying 45,000 square feet.  Commercial shops will be phased in to complete the balance of the center.

The post Fresno Mayor Swearengin and Council Member Xiong Announce New Supermarket in District 1 appeared first on .

The new “Truth About Shopping” study explored global consumer attitudes and behavior related to all areas of shopping today, including online, mobile and in-store purchasing, views about data and privacy, and preferences about the shopping environment and experience.  Conducted by McCann Truth Central, McCann Worldgroup’s consumer intelligence unit, the research is based on a survey of over 10,000 people in 11 countries (U.S., U.K., China, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, U.A.E., France, South Africa, Spain, and India) supplemented by additional qualitative research in these and other countries around the world.

“We’re seeing a variety of behavioral reactions in how shoppers around the world are responding to the growing science of shopping through the expanded use of technology and data. There are ways in which they are embracing it thoroughly and other ways in which they’re doing so warily,” said Laura Simpson, Global Director, McCann Truth Central. “Today’s challenge in the retail environment is: How do you keep the art of shopping alive in the age of algorithms? We believe that focusing on the Art of Shopping is essential to balance the science of shopping,” she said.

She noted that 52% of people said that shopping is too impersonal these days and they are concerned about the reliance on algorithms to dictate their purchases. In fact, 57% worry that they’ll discover fewer new things if companies always show them exactly what they’re looking for.  But said Simpson, this also presents the sellers with new product offering and merchandising opportunities, because 66% of shoppers are looking to be inspired while they are shopping. “They want the very human and personal touch amidst a wave of algorithm-based personalization,” she said.

However, this desire for a personal touch does not mean that consumers aren’t looking to retailers to “seamlessly blend technology into the physical experience,” according to India Wooldridge, VP Deputy Director, McCann Truth Central “When we look at our data, consumers are open to an even more seamless experience in stores than we see today. They are ready for the smart store of the future,” she said.  “For instance, 71% would welcome interactive walls that enable you to try on clothes without changing. However, it is important to remember that such technology cannot come at the expense of really getting to know the customer.”

She pointed out that mobile is an area where there is a particularly strong need to create more of a sensorial experience.  Of consumers who have shopped on their mobiles in the past six months, 49% can see themselves shopping exclusively on their mobile in the future, she said, underscoring mobile’s important role in the future of shopping. On the other hand, mobiles are currently emerging as the new window-shopping, with 70% of consumers saying that they think that mobiles are good for browsing but not for buying. This perception is highest in Mexico and the U.S., among the countries studied. Brands that are able to tailor their mobile platforms to offer rich, inspirational content, as well as quick, on-the-go transactions, based on the consumer’s momentary requirement, will really be able to tap into mobile’s full potential.

In line with these trends, the study found consumers expressing a mixture of greater awareness, greater concern and just plain sci-fi-like interest in the future of shopping.

Aware that they’re being “watched”:  The study found that 84% of people globally are aware that companies track the websites they visit to recommend products they may like. In the U.S., this awareness rose significantly from 69% in 2011 to 87% in 2014. At the same time, shoppers accept this tracking as long as they understand the trade-off: 65% of people said they were willing to share data if they could see the benefit to them. Again, this has been increasing. In the U.S., 61% of consumers said they would be willing to share data if they understood the benefit to them, compared with 45% in 2011.

Privacy concerns: The over-reliance on the science of shopping does worry the majority of consumers. Overall around the world, 71% worry about the amount of information that online stores know about them. This concern is lowest in the U.S. (58%) among the countries studied.  However, because things are changing at such a rapid pace and people are focused on the technological benefits, there are some contradictory attitudes that emerge with regard to privacy. For example, 59% of people around the world would be open to a store that is able to recognize you when you walk through the door

A sci-fi vision:  Nearly half of people globally say that they can see themselves potentially using fingerprints or retina scans as payment authentication in the future. And nearly a sixth of people around the world say that they can see themselves potentially using payment technology embedded in their body. Among the countries studied, the U.S. ranks among the lowest in embracing this science fiction vision.

New shopping etiquette: Additionally, a lot of personal behavior is already changing because of the new world of shopping experience.  Shopping at midnight and even mid-dinner, have become acceptable. 39% of people globally say that being able to shop in the middle of the night is the biggest emotional benefit of online shopping. And a quarter of people globally believe it is acceptable to excuse yourself from a meeting or dinner in order to go log on to an online flash sale. So much for an old-fashioned view of manners.

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The “Local Mobile Trends Study,” conducted by Thrive Analytics and released by the Local Search Association, surveyed 1,058 smartphone users via Thrive Analytics’ Connected Experience online panel in January 2014. The panel was representative of the U.S. smartphone population, with respondents divided into four groups: Gen Y (18-29-years-old), Gen X (30-43-years old), Young Boomers (44-53-years-old) and Older Boomers & Seniors (54-years-old and above). The survey asked smartphone users about how they used their mobile devices at various stages of the purchasing process.

“Mobile isn’t just for kids anymore,” said Neg Norton, president, Local Search Association. “Boomers and Seniors are catching up to their Gen Y and Gen X counterparts in their use of mobile throughout the local shopping experience. Businesses that fail to recognize the strong and growing prevalence of mobile usage by older generations will miss out on an opportunity to reach this large demographic with huge purchasing power.”

Guilt-Free About Searching for Deals, Prices and Reviews While Shopping In-Store
While more Gen Y respondents said they were likely to use their smartphones every time they shop in-store than Older Boomer & Senior respondents (26 percent vs. 6 percent), the majority of both age groups said they use their smartphones at least sometimes when shopping in-store (97 percent vs. 69 percent).

Among those respondents who said they use their smartphones at least sometimes while shopping in-store, there was little variation by age group for why they used their mobile devices or their attitudes about doing so:

• Desire for Better Prices and Discounts: Smartphone users of all age groups said that comparing prices and looking up discounts were their top reasons for searching via their mobile devices while shopping in-store. The majority of respondents across age groups said they did so to compare prices (60 percent of Gen Y; 60 percent of Gen X; 52 percent of Young Boomers; 51 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors) and look for coupons or offers (56 percent of Gen Y; 59 percent of Gen X; 52 percent of Young Boomers; 50 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors).
• Lack of Guilt for Wanting to Be Better Informed: Only a small minority of respondents across all age groups said they feel guilty or try to hide using their smartphones while shopping in-store (8 percent of Gen Y; 10 percent of Gen X; 8 percent of Young Boomers; 6 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors). On the contrary, the vast majority of respondents said they searched via mobile in-store because it helped them in trying to decide whether to buy something or because it made them a smarter shopper (88 percent of Gen Y; 89 percent of Gen X; 87 percent of Young Boomers; 85 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors). Additionally, respondents of all ages said that mobile search via a search browser was the most common way they looked up more information while shopping in-store.
• Open to Going Elsewhere to Purchase Products Based on Discovered Information: Respondents across all age groups said they were willing to stop moving forward with a purchase based on new information they discovered via their smartphone while shopping in-store (65 percent of Gen Y; 62 percent of Gen X; 45 percent of Young Boomers; 37 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors). The higher response rate among Gen Y respondents versus respondents from older generations indicates the group’s stronger receptiveness to changing purchasing decisions based on online information. Of those who said they decided not to buy something based on new information discovered, the most common reason was because they found a better price online (47 percent of Gen Y; 46 percent of Gen X; 41 percent of Young Boomers; 41 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors), followed by product reviews and better prices at a nearby store.

“As smartphones become more integral in our daily lives, users of all ages are turning to their mobile devices throughout the local shopping experience to ensure they are finding the best deals and the highest-rated products and services available,” said Norton. “In order to compete effectively, local businesses need to develop a strong understanding of the mobile landscape their customers will discover when searching for their products and services, and invest in their own mobile presence and marketing to have a voice in what they will find. While Gen Y consumers are the most likely to leverage online information in their decision-making, the trends among older generations indicate that they also value this information.”

Willing to Share Location and Receive Text Messages In Exchange for Deals & Loyalty Points
Gen Y respondents said they were much more likely than Older Boomer & Senior respondents to have ever “checked-in” at a local business or shared their location with others via their smartphone (60 percent vs. 30 percent). However, of those who have done so, the frequency with which they continue to “check in” or make their location known is comparable across age groups.

Additionally, when asked under what circumstances they would be willing to share their location with a brand, retailer or local business, the majority of respondents across all ages who said they have shared their location agreed that that their top reasons would be to benefit from an offer or deal (71 percent of Gen Y; 68 percent of Gen X; 64 percent of Young Boomers; 62 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors) and the ability to gain loyalty points or rewards (67 percent of Gen Y; 64 percent of Gen X; 65 percent of Young Boomers; 62 percent of Older Boomers & Seniors).

The reasons for “checking in” vary by age. More than half of Gen Y respondents (53 percent) said they check in because they want to provide their location for a picture or social update or to let their friends know where they are, versus just 24 percent of Older Boomers & Senior respondents. Meanwhile, 41 percent of Older Boomer & Senior respondents said they would be willing to “check in” or share their location for an offer or reward, versus 25 percent of Gen Y respondents.

Nearly half (49 percent) of all respondents said they have agreed to receive offers, loyalty points, content or other rewards via text messages. While the majority of Gen Y and Gen X respondents said they had agreed to receive text messages in exchange for incentives (52 percent and 55 percent, respectively), a comparable share of Young Boomers (43 percent) and Older Boomers & Seniors (37 percent) have also agreed to the same.

“Local businesses have always wanted loyal customers and easy ways to stay in touch with them about their products,” said Norton. “As smartphones continue to disrupt the local shopping experience, one thing is clear: local businesses have a strong opportunity to build ongoing relationships with those they most want to reach by incentivizing existing and potential customers through mobile offers and discounts. Additionally, local businesses have an opportunity with younger generations to leverage their interest in sharing location for social reasons to raise word-of-mouth visibility for their offerings.”

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“Businesses operating in the state of California must dispose of hazardous waste safely and legally,” Egan said. “This settlement will ensure that Lowe’s will comply with
California law related to the management disposal and transportation of hazardous waste in the future. Thanks to the hard work of our Environmental Protection Unit and fellow prosecutors across California, Lowe’s stores in Fresno will no longer be improperly disposing of hazardous waste.”

The judgment is the culmination of a civil enforcement lawsuit filed in Alameda County alleging more than 118 Lowe’s stores throughout the state improperly handled and disposed of hazardous waste and materials over a six and a half year period. The materials illegally disposed of included – pesticides, aerosols, paint and colorants, solvents, adhesives, batteries, mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs, electronic waste and other toxic, ignitable and corrosive materials. There are two Lowe’s stores in Fresno County; both were involved in the hazardous waste violations.

Under the settlement, which includes a permanent injunction against Lowe’s, the company must pay $12.85 million in civil penalties and costs. An additional $2.075 million will fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection enforcement in California, and Lowe’s will fund hazardous waste minimizing projects of $3.175 million.

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Consumers who want to know if their favorite restaurant is handling their food with extra care can do so by checking out a list offered by the Tulare County Health & Human Service Agency’s Environmental Health Services (TCEH).

The list includes restaurants that have consistent safe food handling practices and have achieved a score of 95 percent or above on three consecutive routine inspections conducted by TCEH.

Restaurants who meet the criteria were recognized this week with an Excellence in Food Safety Awards certificate. The award places a spotlight on those restaurants that demonstrate outstanding performance in, and an exceptional commitment to, safe food handling.

At the March 25 board of supervisors meeting, more than 210 local retail food facilities were recognized and named individually.

“Environmental Health places the utmost importance on recognizing restaurants that practice consistency in safe food handling and receive high marks on inspections,” said Nilsa Gonzalez, division manager of Tulare County HHSA Environmental Health. “These restaurateurs have achieved a level of safety that we admire and hope others will emulate.”

Retailers who receive an award earn a framed certificate and window ribbon cling to display at their facility. Residents can find out which facilities received an award by checking the list at: http://hhsawebdocs.tchhsa.org/questys.cmx.hhsawebdocs/File.ashx?id=3255&v=1&x=pdf

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“Economic fundamentals that influence consumer spending moved in a positive direction in the latest Index,” said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte’s senior U.S. economist.  “Median home prices increased, while initial unemployment claims continued to fall.  Real wages, which have remained stubbornly flat, increased slightly as well.”

The Index, which comprises four components — tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices – increased to 4.3 this month from 3.9 last month.

“Retailers need to keep their foot on the gas in light of the positive signals that suggest improved consumer confidence and spending levels in the months ahead,” said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and Retail & Distribution sector leader.  “The holiday season underscored that consumers are not only willing to shop, but expect to do so on their time and on their terms.  Retailers can keep up the momentum by targeting consumers across different channels and geographies with more personalized, high-touch connections through mobile and online points of contact that reach a broader swath of shoppers with greater precision.”

Paul added that retailers should also consider how to reign in shoppers’ dependence on discounts, through new products, assortment and service that entice shoppers to spend at full price points, to not only drive sales but preserve margins.

Highlights of the Index include:

Tax Burden: The tax rate is up now at 11.8 percent, a 0.6 percent increase from last month.  A rising tax rate is associated with increasing incomes.

Initial Unemployment Claims: Claims declined 14 percent from the same period last year, falling to 324,000.

Real Wages: Real hourly wages rose 1.3 percent from this time last year to $8.83, showing a second month of accelerated increases.

Real New Home Prices: New home prices climbed to $116,000, an increase of more than 5 percent from the same time last year.

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These are some of the core findings of an independent study released today by Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing. ‘Rethinking Retail’ is a detailed report on interviews with 1,000 consumers and 50 retailers across the United States. In addition to the impact of social media on spend, the study reveals how retailers are struggling to create the kind of consistent and personalized experience online and in stores that drives increased sales.

Key findings of the study

• Social media matters
  • Consumers interact with retailers’ Facebook pages (38 percent) more than the brands’ own websites (36 percent); a difference that is significantly more pronounced for younger consumers
  • 89 percent of those who interact with a retailer online through any social media outlet say that the interaction has an impact on their purchase
  • Women are twice as likely as men to be influenced by Pinterest; YouTube influences twice as many men as women
  • Only 2 percent of all people polled say that FourSquare has any influence on their purchase
• Brand consistency across channels significantly impacts consumer spend
  • Nearly two-thirds of consumers say that consistency plays a role in their tendency to spend with a brand (63 percent)
  • A third (34 percent) say high consistency across a brand’s channels would mean a greater spend, while a lack of consistency results in a reduction in their spending (39 percent)
• Consumers see far fewer in-store personalized offers than retailers claim they offer; retailers losing out
  • 59 percent of consumers who have experienced personalization believe it has a noticeable influence on their spending
  • Though 62 percent of retailers reported that they offer personalized offers in store, only 20 percent of consumers report seeing ‘in-store only’ personalized offers
• Online shoppers are regularly targeted with more personalized perks than those who shop in-store
  • 39 percent of brands offer product recommendations based on customers’ previous purchases online, versus only 10 percent in-store. A minority (45 percent) have offers both online and in-store
  • 48 percent of organizations offer personalized offers/promotions based on customers’ previous purchases only online, just 3 percent do so only in-store. A minority (45 percent) have offers both online and in-store
  • Consumers are three times more likely to impulse-buy in a store than online.
• Lack of technology limits retailers who want to offer superior customer experience
  • 96 percent of consumers expect retailers to inform them of new products. Only 34 percent of retailers, however, can track consumer trends in realtime, reducing their ability to rollout appropriate offers which can drive sales
  • Lack of technology is the most common factor (38 percent) preventing retailers from creating a more integrated customer experience within their organization

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This bridal show is a must for any Central Valley brides looking for great ideas and useful information for planning an amazing wedding.  Potential brides will have the opportunity to meet the finest wedding professionals in the Fresno area and enjoy an elegant fashion show featuring the latest bridal gowns and trends for 2014.

Grand prize giveaways and two runway fashion shows will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.  The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door the day of the show, cash only.  For more information, visit www.fresnoconventioncenter.com or www.pbshowplace.com.

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“Our 2013 holiday gift card survey revealed that 74 percent of consumers are planning on buying at least one gift card this year, and that means there is going to be an influx of gift cards being used in the coming months,” said Jennifer Tramontana, spokesperson for the Retail Gift Card Association. “Even if you’ve used them many times in the past, it’s a good idea to give yourself a refresher on gift card best practices.”

Before you head out to spend your holiday gift card loot this year, the RGCA encourages you to consider the following:

1. Get your receipt: If possible, get the gift receipt for your gift card in case it is lost or stolen. This will not be necessary in every case, but it can help expedite the replacement process.
2. Take your time and breathe easy: Most retail gift cards have no fees or expiration dates.
3. Check for incentives: Many retailers will offer special deals and incentives for customers using gift cards, so be sure you do your research before you shop in order to get the best deal.
4. Socialize: Check the social media sites of the retailer before you shop to look for flash deals and reviews. Some retailers run contests for best gift card photos so you could get an extra bonus.
5. Always take it with you: Everyone has had the experience of forgetting a gift card in a drawer. Instead, dedicate a spot in your wallet for gift cards so you never miss an opportunity to spend it.

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• The new car unit sales forecast for November 2013 is the best November since 2003.
• For November 2013, new light vehicle sales in the U.S. (including fleet) are expected to be 1,211,120 units, up 6.3 percent from November 2012 and up 0.8 percent from October 2013.
• The November 2013 forecast translates into a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (“SAAR”) of 15.8 million new car sales, up 4.3 percent from October 2013 and up 2.2 percent over November 2012.
• Retail sales are up 1 percent compared to November 2012 and up .3 percent from October 2013.
• Fleet and rental sales are expected to make up 16.1 percent of total industry sales in November 2013.
• The industry average incentive spending per unit will be approximately $2,507 in November 2013, which represents an increase of 0.7 percent from November 2012 but a decrease of -2.1 percent from October 2013. Incentives are at their lowest levels since January 2013.
• Used car sales* are estimated to be 3,000,508. The ratio of new to used is estimated to be 1.2:3 for November 2013.

“Dealerships across the country continued to experience robust sales numbers in November, fueled by attractive discounts on the outgoing 2013 model year vehicles as well as several new, compelling 2014 model year introductions,” said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for TrueCar.com. “We are on track to reach nearly 15.7 million new vehicles sold in 2013, followed by our forecast of 16.5 million units in 2014.”

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