Pall Mall public realm project being separated from wider scheme
David Humphreys and Local Democracy Reporter
16:00, 08 Apr 2026
The development site at Bixteth Street Gardens in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Delivery of an urban park in the middle of Liverpool’s first Grade A office building scheme for more than 15 years requires public-sector intervention to ensure it can be brought to life.
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Almost £2.5m of developer cash from projects across the city centre is to be repurposed to help create a public realm as part of proposals for a new eight storey office development at Pall Mall.
A total of £2.47m of section 106 (S106) cash – derived from development projects – will be used for eligible works, including The Lawns, Terraced Gardens and Bixteth Walk. The total cost of the scheme is expected to top out at £60m.
It is being separated from the wider scheme after a full business case indicated that “market conditions, abnormal costs and viability constraints require public‐sector intervention.”
As a result, the public realm will be funded via S106 which the local authority said would make the overall project easier to achieve.
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The council-owned site, which lies off Bixteth Street, was remediated in 2020 but has stood dormant ever since after plans for large office buildings and a hotel stalled. There are hopes work could get underway on site during the last three months of this year, with a view to completion in 2028.
The scheme is being brought forward by Kier Property Developments Ltd with the phase one green space open to the public but privately owned. Pall Mall is a long‐standing strategic regeneration site in the city’s commercial business district, bounded by Pall Mall, Bixteth Street and Exchange Station.
The wider masterplan will deliver up to 400,000 sq. ft of Grade A office space, hotel and supporting uses centred around new green public space.
Delivery is identified as a priority within the council’s Strategic Futures Programme and the Liverpool City Region’s Grade A office growth agenda. It would represent the first development of its kind in Liverpool for almost two decades.
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The project has progressed to full business case which has confirmed that market conditions, abnormal costs and viability constraints require public‐sector intervention. As a result, delivery of the public realm will be achieved separately, which according to city council documents makes the project easier to achieve overall.
The central gardens would be accessible 24 hours a day and maintained by a management company. A planned maintenance regime will be implemented to ensure the public realm remains safe, attractive and well‐maintained, including routine landscaping, cleaning, lighting, repairs and renewal of materials as required.
This will be funded by service charge contributions. According to the local authority, this arrangement ensures no ongoing revenue liability for Liverpool Council and preserves unrestricted public access in perpetuity.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Flying is about to get more expensive for some travelers who check luggage, as two major U.S. carriers move to raise baggage fees amid rising costs across the airline industry.
Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines are both increasing their checked bag fees by $10, pushing the cost to $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second. Delta is also raising the fee for a third checked bag by $50, bringing the total cost to $200, the airline confirmed to FOX Business.
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The changes apply to new bookings, with Delta’s updated fees taking effect Wednesday and Southwest’s on Thursday.
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft lands at Victorville Airport in Victorville, California, on March 26, 2019. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Delta said the increases will impact domestic routes and select short-haul international flights, marking its first domestic baggage fee hike in two years.
“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” a spokesperson for Delta told FOX Business in an email.
Passengers queue to check in at a Delta Air Lines counter at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico, on Nov. 13, 2025. (Paola Garcia/Reuters)
In a similar statement, Southwest said the decision comes after “an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”
The fee hikes come as airlines grapple with rising operating costs, particularly jet fuel.
Jet fuel prices have surged globally in recent months, climbing from roughly $85 to $90 per barrel in February to about $209 following disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, according to Reuters.
Passengers wait in a TSA security checkpoint queue that stretches through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 29, 2026. (Aaron Schwartz/Reuters)
In recent weeks, JetBlue and United Airlines have also announced increases to baggage fees.
“As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value,” JetBlue wrote in a statement to FOX Business.
Former Daish’s Blackpool Hotel was acquired by father-and-son team
Richard Hunt and Local Democracy Reporter
16:00, 08 Apr 2026
The new-look Hotel Santa Maria, in Blackpool(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A prominent hotel on Blackpool’s North Shore promenade has a new name and a new look.
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The former Daish’s Blackpool Hotel is a substantial property which was run by Daish’s Coach Holidays for a number of years.
But the family-owned UK company, which provides package holidays by coach to its own chain of hotels, sold it in November as part of a shake-up of its operations.
The new owner of the the 70-bed Blackpool hotel is a smaller enterprise led by father and son Declan Scully and his son Leo, who bought it for an undisclosed sum late last year.
Now the team has completed the all-new look, switching the old grey external walls and blue signage to a magnolia shade – and new name Hotel Santa Maria.
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Declan said after taking over: “My son is handling the marketing side and I’ll be overseeing the hotel and trying to make people happy!
“There is tremendous loyalty to this hotel from customers, with people coming back and even trying to book the same room.
“Our idea is to bring TLC to the building and happiness to the guests and make sure they have a lovely stay and will want to come back.
“We have total confidence in the holiday sector in Blackpool, we think it’s flourishing and that’s why we’re here.”
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Daish’s Blackpool Hotel had a staff of around 30 but shortly after the take over, Declan said he was not in a position to discuss the subject of employment contracts at that stage.
Last summer saw the creation of Blackpool Tourism, which now oversees and manages major town attractions, including Blackpool Tower, Sandcastle Waterpark, and Madame Tussauds, previously operated by Merlin Entertainments.
Formed by Blackpool Council , it aims to boost the local economy and reinvest profits into town services, and recently launched its new “Ultimate Ticket”, a pass offering entry to six major attractions for £65 – Pleasure Beach Resort (including unlimited rides), Sandcastle Waterpark, The Blackpool Tower Top, Tower Circus, Tower Dungeon, and Madame Tussauds. It is valid for 90 days after the first visit.
With a new name and new colour scheme, Hotel Santa Maria is ready for the new season.
Teaching is full-time work, and carving out time for a graduate degree on top of lesson planning and grading takes real commitment.
That’s why many educators turn to 1 year online master’s in education programs: you stay in your classroom, finish in around 12 months, and come away with a recognized qualification. According to UPCEA, 71% of prospective graduate students now prefer fully online programs, and that shift shows clearly in education.
Here are four programs worth looking at.
1. International Teachers University (ITU): Best for International Educators
ITU built its 1 year online master’s in education programs on international teaching benchmarks, which makes it particularly relevant for teachers who work across different curricula or in international school settings.
The program includes eight core pedagogy courses and two specialization courses. You’ll study learning theories and assessment methods that track student progress in real time, alongside questioning techniques that develop critical thinking. Technology integration runs through the core curriculum with a focus on practical classroom application. Specialization tracks cover Early Years and Primary Education, English Language and Literacy, and Teaching Mathematics and Numeracy. The full program costs $7,500, with no additional fees.
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2. Walden University: Best for Flexible Scheduling
Walden is one of the more established names in online M Ed programs, with specializations in Teacher Leadership and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment that work well for practicing educators. Courses run on seven to eight-week terms, which keeps the workload manageable alongside a full teaching schedule. The university holds regional accreditation and wide recognition across U.S. school districts.
3. Western Governors University (WGU): Best for Experienced Teachers
WGU runs on a competency-based model, where progress is tied to demonstrated mastery. Experienced teachers with strong subject knowledge can often move through the program faster than a fixed-semester schedule allows. WGU’s online masters of education degree carries CAEP accreditation, which employers across the U.S. and in many international schools recognize.
4. Grand Canyon University (GCU): Best for Rolling Intake
GCU offers online M Ed programs with multiple start dates throughout the year, which helps if waiting for a traditional intake doesn’t fit your schedule. Specializations cover educational technology, special education, and teaching and learning. The curriculum leans toward applied learning, with coursework connected directly to classroom practice.
How to Pick the Right 1 Year Online Master’s in Education Program
Before committing, check two things above all: whether the institution holds proper accreditation and whether the curriculum matches the kind of teaching you actually do. Scheduling flexibility matters too, especially if your school runs on a strict term calendar.
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An online masters of education degree becomes a worthwhile investment when it points toward something specific, whether that’s a leadership role, a new school environment, or a qualification threshold you need to meet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 1-year online master’s in education program?
It’s an accelerated graduate degree in education completed online in around 12 months. It covers pedagogy, curriculum design, and educational leadership, giving working teachers a path to advanced qualifications without leaving their jobs.
Who should consider a 1-year online master’s in education program?
Any working teacher who wants to advance professionally without a career break. These programs work well for educators moving into leadership, refining classroom practice, or meeting qualification requirements for international or independent school positions.
What specializations are commonly offered in 1-year online master’s in education programs?
Common specializations include curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, early years education, educational technology, and English language teaching. What’s available varies by institution, so check each program’s course catalog before applying.
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How do I choose the right 1-year online master’s in education program?
Start with accreditation, then look at how well the curriculum fits your teaching context and how flexible the scheduling is. For teachers in international settings, programs built on global standards tend to be more useful than those tied to a single national curriculum.
Are 1-year online master’s in education programs recognized by employers?
Yes, provided the institution holds proper accreditation. Most schools, districts, and international organizations recognize degrees from accredited universities. If you plan to teach abroad, confirm that recognition applies in your target country before enrolling.
HDFC Securities’ latest annual strategy report, “The Big Review” 2026, highlights that despite geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty, India’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain relatively stable.
Growth has seen only a modest impact, inflation is expected to trend closer to 5%, and fiscal dynamics remain under control—pointing to underlying resilience in the economy.
However, the report flags external vulnerabilities. Weak foreign inflows, trade imbalances, and subdued remittances continue to weigh on the currency, making it a key area of concern.
Earnings Growth Holds, But Cuts Loom
According to “The Big Review” report, corporate earnings are still expected to deliver close to double-digit growth, although some near-term downgrades are likely.Broader markets could still see earnings growth of around 10%, with sectors such as BFSI, consumer discretionary, metals, and telecom showing signs of improvement, while energy may face pressure.
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Valuations Cooling, Opportunities Emerging
The report notes that while valuations—particularly in mid- and small-cap stocks—remain relatively elevated, the recent correction has been sharp at the stock level. This has created selective bottom-up opportunities for investors willing to look beyond index movements. It also points out that benchmark valuations have moved closer to levels seen during previous corrections, suggesting markets are entering a potential accumulation zone, even though some further moderation cannot be ruled out.
India Underperforms Globally After Strong Run
After a phase of strong outperformance, Indian equities have lagged global peers. “The Big Review” report highlights that global leadership has shifted toward sectors such as AI, energy, and industrials, while consumer and software segments have seen relative weakness.At the same time, India’s valuation premium over emerging markets has moderated significantly, improving its relative attractiveness for investors.
FPI Flows and Domestic Cushion
The report suggests that while foreign investor flows remain uncertain amid global risk-off sentiment, currency concerns, and earnings downgrades, the likelihood of large-scale outflows appears limited.
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Importantly, “The Big Review” underscores the role of domestic institutional investors as a stabilizing force. Mutual funds, sitting on significant cash levels, have begun deploying capital, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, power, banks, and industrials.
Market Cycle: Nearing the Bottom
One of the key takeaways from “The Big Review” 2026 is that markets appear to be approaching the later stages of the current correction cycle. Historically, bear market phases tend to last around 20 months, and the present cycle is already well progressed, suggesting that downside risks may be gradually reducing.
Sector Strategy for FY27
The report advocates a Growth at Reasonable Price (GARP) approach—focusing on identifying mispriced growth opportunities rather than making broad index calls.
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Key sector views from “The Big Review”:
Positive: Industrials & Infrastructure, Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate, Automobiles
“The Big Review” also highlights the structural rise in retail participation. India’s investor base continues to expand rapidly, supported by rising demat accounts, consistent SIP inflows, and strong IPO activity.
The demographic profile is also evolving, with a growing share of younger investors entering the market, reflecting increasing financial awareness and long-term participation.
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Model Portfolio and Key Picks
The model portfolio outlined in “The Big Review” highlights opportunities across autos, industrials, real estate, IT, and power.
Key names include:
Bajaj Auto, M&M, Hero MotoCorp
ICICI Bank, SBI
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Larsen & Toubro, Siemens
Infosys, TCS
NTPC, Power Grid
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“Bounce Back Basket”: 10 Stocks to Watch
“The Big Review” identifies a set of stocks that could benefit from easing geopolitical tensions and improving macro conditions:
Hindustan Petroleum – margin recovery potential
InterGlobe Aviation – benefits from lower fuel costs
Asian Paints, Oberoi Realty, Lemon Tree Hotels, Syrma SGS
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Key Takeaway: From Caution to Selective Optimism
Overall, “The Big Review” 2026 strikes a balanced tone—highlighting near-term risks while pointing to emerging opportunities.
With valuations cooling, domestic liquidity remaining strong, and markets nearing the end of the correction cycle, the focus shifts from broad market direction to sector selection and stock picking.
For investors, FY27 could be defined by the ability to identify quality growth at reasonable valuations, rather than chasing momentum.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in Indian equities on Wednesday, offloading shares worth Rs 2,811 crore, indicating that the recently announced ceasefire in the Iran conflict has not yet been enough to draw foreign money back into the market.
The continued selling extends a persistent trend seen since the outbreak of hostilities in the region. FIIs have sold nearly Rs 1.53 lakh crore over 21 consecutive trading sessions since the Iran war began, reflecting sustained risk aversion toward emerging markets amid geopolitical uncertainty. So far in April, foreign investors have pulled out approximately Rs 38,600 crore, underscoring the cautious stance despite improving global sentiment.
Domestic equity markets, however, staged a sharp rebound after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran, which significantly eased concerns around supply disruptions in global energy markets. The development triggered a steep decline in crude oil prices, with Brent crude falling about 14 percent to below $95 per barrel, boosting investor sentiment across risk assets.
Indian equities mirrored the global rally today, with benchmark indices posting strong gains during the session. The Nifty surged more than 850 points, while the Sensex rose over 2,800 points, gaining roughly 3.8. Broader markets outperformed the benchmarks, with midcap and smallcap indices advancing more than 4.2 percent each, led by strong buying in rate-sensitive sectors such as automobiles and financials, which climbed about 6 percent.
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The decline in crude prices is seen as a key positive for the Indian economy, as lower energy costs help ease inflationary pressures, narrow the current account deficit, support the rupee and strengthen fiscal dynamics. These factors typically improve the macroeconomic outlook and support equity valuations, particularly during periods of global volatility.
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On the policy front, the Reserve Bank of India maintained the repo rate at 5.25% with a neutral stance, ensuring stable liquidity conditions in the financial system. While concerns around potential inflation-led rate hikes persist, the current pause in monetary tightening continues to provide support to rate-sensitive sectors, including banks, financials, automobiles, capital goods and infrastructure. Ajay Menon, MD and CEO, Wealth Management at Motilal Oswal, said that with macroeconomic stability largely in place, market attention is now shifting toward corporate earnings performance. He noted that stock and sector differentiation is likely to increase going forward, with markets expected to reward companies that demonstrate strong earnings visibility rather than relying solely on liquidity-driven momentum.Menon added that the near-term outlook for equities remains positive, supported by improving sentiment and stable macro conditions, but the sustainability of the rally will depend on progress in geopolitical negotiations, normalization of energy shipments and the trajectory of crude oil prices, the rupee and foreign investment flows.
Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, AVP – Research at Master Capital Services, said the sharp rally in equities following ceasefire hopes could lead to near-term profit booking after the recent surge. He maintained that the broader trend remains constructive and that investors may consider adopting a buy-on-dips approach as markets consolidate after the strong move.
In the rural plains of Northern Poland, at a remote base surrounded by farmland and pine forest, some 150 U.S. Navy sailors have a small slice of comfort through the Navy Exchange Mini Mart, a place for familiar snacks, hygiene products and the household brands many of them knew growing up.
One of hundreds of retail stores the Navy operates globally through the Navy Exchange Service Command, or Nexcom, the convenience store in Redzikowo doesn’t make much money. But it’s part of a sprawling system that plays a critical role in retention, morale and ultimately, U.S. national security by funneling profits into programs that support sailors and their families.
Now, that network could be at risk as larger, savvier retail giants like Walmart, Amazon and Target chip away at Nexcom’s U.S. market share, forcing it to do what any good retailer does when sales slow: hire consultants and embark on an ambitious turnaround plan.
“Even though we’re within the military, we compete for people’s share of wallet, right? They can just as easily … stop at a Target, they could stop at a Walmart, but we want them to shop here,” said Nexcom’s CEO Robert Bianchi, who has both a Harvard MBA and almost 30 years of experience as a sailor to inform his strategy. “It is a constant challenge to stay relevant.”
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Declining sales, relevance
Nexcom, which can trace its roots back to the 1800s, provides active duty military members from all branches, veterans and their families with lodging access, uniforms and discounted, tax-free products through its chain of outposts. Some of the locations are sprawling department stores, offering sailors access to household names like Home Depot, Bath and Body Works and American Eagle, while others are smaller convenience stores, similar to a 7-Eleven. Similar versions exist across different branches of the military.
The stores are both a perk and a critical component to supporting sailors, creating its own “virtuous cycle,” Bianchi said.
Aside from offering low prices on household brands, Nexcom’s larger department stores near big bases in California, Florida and Virginia help pay for smaller shops in remote foreign outposts, such as the mini mart in Redzikowo. Across the chain, all profits are funneled back into the Navy and help to fund its morale, welfare and recreation programs, which offer sailors and their families access to services like day cares, gyms, counseling and community events.
The Navy Exchange Mini Mart in Redzikowo, Poland
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“You know you were going to be in a group of folks that were kind of going through the same thing that you were, right? It was almost like a support group,” Bianchi said of his experience with the programs while he was in the military. “The spouses a lot of times are left behind and they’re looking for connections and wanting to establish those relationships with folks that they can lean on while their husband or wife or whoever is out to sea for months at a time, and so the MWR team is really good at sponsoring programs that help all the family, not just the military member.”
But sales have been in decline for the last 12 years, falling 19% between fiscal 2012 and 2024 and outpacing declines in total military personnel. The most recent year with data available, fiscal 2024, saw the lowest sales in nearly 20 years outside the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, dividends generated by store sales that feed MWR programs are a fraction of what they were in the past. Between fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2024, dividends fell 43% from $51.9 million to $29.8 million.
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“The pressure is there. I feel it, you know, and just like a retailer, we watch our sales figures and every day we’re looking at our retail trends,” said Bianchi. “What is at risk is potentially the degradation of this benefit for all those military members and their families around the world and so that’s why we take this very seriously … if we made less money, [MWR] may have to reprioritize some things within their budget.”
Robert Bianchi,
Chief Executive Officer, Navy Exchange Service Command
CNBC
Nexcom’s sales declines have come at a time when retail sales overall have grown, indicating it’s been losing market share. Its stores have become dated, it’s behind on e-commerce and it’s lost sight of the retail fundamentals that keep customers loyal, choosing to compete on price at a time when shoppers are looking for more.
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“They have good things at the exchange. I don’t have a problem with what they carry…. but it’s just the convenience,” Angela Emerson, a Navy veteran and Nexcom customer, told CNBC during a recent store visit in Norfolk, Virginia. “Amazon’s never closed.”
While the Navy’s primary goal is to protect the U.S. at sea, the increasingly competitive consumer landscape means it also needs to be a really good retailer, which sometimes means hiring help.
In May 2020, Nexcom hired retail consultant Melissa Gonzalez, a principal at strategy, design and architecture firm MG2, to help redesign its stores and drive growth through its “Store of the Future” initiative. Over the last few years, it’s put $20 million into fixing its stores and plans to spend $80 million more over the next three years, a significant portion of which will be used to support Store of the Future projects.
“They have a lot of unique challenges with the Navy Exchange. One, no two buildings are the same, so it’s really hard to standardize things that you would then roll out once you come up with a concept, because there’s a lot of different scenarios with the architecture, with the geography, with merchandizing,” said Gonzalez. “Also, when the Navy Exchanges first started, there weren’t so many comps like you see today, Target and Walmart and some of these others who have really grown. And so what is the repositioning of their place in the industry, to their customer, with all of this evolution that’s happening?”
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Retail consultant Melissa Gonzalez was hired to help NEXCOM with its turnaround
CNBC
Working alongside Nexcom, Gonzalez has gone department by department, figuring out how to reformat stores, jazz up signage and communicate value based on the local demographics and respective categories.
Renovating Nexcom’s stores and figuring out how to merchandise them has been a challenge, said Richard Honiball, Nexcom’s chief merchandising and marketing officer. Some of the stores are so large, they offer everything from Tempur-Pedic mattresses and dishwashers to Estee Lauder fragrances and buzzy razor brands.
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“The least expensive item we sell is a note card overseas. It’s about 30 or 40 cents. The most expensive item we sold last year? A diamond solitaire ring that was over $90,000,” said Honiball. “How do we merchandise it? It is challenging, which is why we don’t try to be Costco and bulk things out, or we don’t try to be Amazon and carry everything. What we try to do is curate the assortments as best we can, and I think we get it right more than we get it wrong. But when we get it wrong, we listen to the patron and we adapt.”
Richard Honiball, Nexcom’s chief merchandising and marketing officer
CNBC
While the company has not yet released its annual report for 2025, it says that the turnaround efforts are taking hold. Customer satisfaction was up 2.7 percentage points in 2025, and Nexcom said it grew for the first time since fiscal 2021, with retail sales up 3.2% year over year.
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“Any time we’ve touched an area, it’s driving more sales,” said Honiball. “We didn’t start off saying we’re going to create the Store of the Future, but we were two or three projects in and realized that in essence, what we’re doing is creating this new environment that is much easier, it’s easier to run and it’s more engaging for the patrons.”
Military style turnaround
Earlier this year, CNBC traveled to Norfolk, Virginia – home to the largest Navy base on the globe – to see both an unrenovated Nexcom department store, NEX Norfolk, and its Store of the Future test shop, NEX Oceana, to see the changes underway and how they’re improving sales at the overhauled location.
As soon as customers enter the revamped store, the tweaks are obvious. At NEX Oceana, the lights are brighter, the floors are cleaner, the signage is digital and shoppers can clearly see different departments as they navigate the store.
“People have become more aware of what a good setting feels like. Lighting is critical, right?” said Gonzalez. “You’re looking in the mirror at the outfit you’re trying on. How you look in the mirror is going to influence how much you want to buy that outfit.”
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How assortments are laid out matters, too.
At NEX Norfolk, the consumer electronics department featured an array of TVs on the wall with little branding or explanation of how their features differ, along with lots of empty space. It created a less than engaging retail experience in a critical section of the store offering big-ticket items that consumers consider carefully before buying.
The unrenovated consumer electronics department at NEX Norfolk
CNBC
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At NEX Oceana, the TVs were more organized, branding was clear and the layout maximized the available room, allowing for more merchandise to be on the floor to drive higher sales.
The renovated consumer electronics section at NEX Oceana
CNBC
The new stores have also improved the way individual brands are displayed – especially in categories like jewelry, beauty and apparel.
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For example, in the apparel section at NEX Norfolk, major athletic brands like Nike, Under Armour and Athleta are grouped together, united only by a sign overhead advertising a 20% off discount. At NEX Oceana, individual retailers, from American Eagle to Old Navy, have their own sections, creating branded shopping experiences within the store that allow shoppers to navigate between their favorite names.
The apparel section at the renovated NEX Oceana location highlights individual brands like American Eagle
CNBC
Marta Cruz, a military spouse whose husband is a veteran of both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Coast Guard, told CNBC that NEX Oceana looked different when she was there for a shopping trip in February. It was less crowded, the clothes were more organized and it was easier to push her cart around.
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“It looks good,” said Cruz. “It’s better now.”
Some of the changes to the beauty section at NEX Oceana are already leading to improved sales patterns. In the past, the Bath and Body Works section was in a cavernous tunnel separating the department store from a since shuttered grocery store, far from the rest of the beauty department. Now, the retailer’s area has better signage and is situated with the rest of the beauty products and fragrances, leading sales to jump 40% between 2023 and 2024 at NEX Oceana.
The tunnel where the Bath and Body Works section used to be
CNBC
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The new Bath and Body Works section at NEX Oceana
CNBC
“We’ve already remodeled 20 of the 25 main stores, and we’re seeing increases across the board. In beauty, our beauty sales are up in the high single digits,” said Honiball. “They’re performing three to 400 basis points better than the main chain.”
Some of the changes have also been about making the stores more agile so they can tweak departments and assortments rapidly based on the evolving needs of sailors. In the past, making changes was a costly endeavor that could take years, dragging on both profitability and sales while the renovations were going on.
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“We don’t have the luxury today, in retail overall as an industry, but especially within military retail, within the Navy, to have these long drawn out projects,” said Honiball. “If consumer behavior is shifting, if someone’s going more toward certain brands or going more to certain products or buying in a certain way, we want to be able to adapt much more rapidly because the demands of someone who’s in the military can change in a nanosecond.”
‘Too much of a pain’
As the retail industry grows increasingly competitive, and giants like Walmart and Amazon become harder to beat, it’s common to see warring big box stores try to copy one another and adopt each other’s strategies to take market share.
That’s true at Nexcom, too, but the stores also have a unique value proposition as serving just people connected to the military.
“It’s nicer people because we’re all military,” said Kathy Pawlak, the spouse of a veteran Navy pilot and loyal Nexcom shopper. “I don’t like going in the civilian nastiness.”
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There are unique benefits that come with shopping at Nexcom stores. If a servicemember is in uniform, they get front of the line privileges, and if they’re having an issue with something, there’s access to “white glove service” to address their unique needs, said Honiball.
“That’s kind of our secret sauce,” said Bianchi. “When a family or a sailor walks in here, one out of three people they’re interacting with probably has walked a mile in their shoes, right? So they get it. They understand if that kid is crying in the aisle and whoa, daddy’s gone, you know, or whatever, they get it because they probably moved, or they probably had a dad or a mom who was gone and they can really empathize with that.”
A service member checks out at a Navy Exchange store in Norfolk, Virginia
CNBC
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Though Nexcom has those advantages, it still has to compete in a retail environment where convenience and value matter more than ever, especially for the next generation of shoppers. Many customers interviewed by CNBC said one of the main reasons why they don’t shop at Nexcom more often is because there’s a Walmart or Target closer by, or it’s easier to order from Amazon.
Nexcom has moved online, but its digital storefront can be clunky. Some items require customers to call in to place their order and shoppers need military credentials to log on.
“It’s like this big rigmarole to try to get logged on. It’s kind of a pain,” said Melissa Wadington, whose spouse is in the Navy. “It’s just not worth it for me. It’s too much of a pain.”
Already five years in the making, Nexcom’s turnaround will take at least another three years and millions more in funding. Unlike many other military programs, Nexcom is not primarily funded through federal appropriations, but is rather a self-sustaining machine through its own retail sales, making its ability to grow – while also affecting a turnaround – critical for its survival.
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“There is no time to sit idle in this retail environment,” said Bianchi. “I won’t lie to you and tell you that the competition isn’t fierce. It is. I mean, we fight. We fight to maintain that loyalty.”
DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS) J.P. Morgan Retail Round Up Forum 2026 April 8, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Edward Stack – Executive Chairman Lauren Hobart – President, CEO & Director Navdeep Gupta – Executive VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
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Christopher Horvers – JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Presentation
Christopher Horvers JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
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Well, great. Good morning, everyone, and allow me to welcome you to JPMorgan’s 12th Annual Retail Roundup. It’s our pleasure to host the event inside JPMorgan’s new global headquarters here. I hope you’re enjoying the building and don’t miss the flag in the lobby waving 24 hours a day.
Our fireside chat today is with DICK’S Sporting Goods, and it’s my distinct pleasure to welcome the management team, including an absolute legend of retail, Mr. Ed Stack, Executive Chairman; as well as CEO, Lauren Hobart; and CFO, Navdeep Gupta. Team, DICK’S thank you for your time, and thanks for joining us today.
Edward Stack Executive Chairman
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Happy to be here. And by the way, that lobby is pretty awesome.
Christopher Horvers JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Jamie is a Patriot. Jamie is a Patriot.
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Edward Stack Executive Chairman
Pretty awesome.
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Question-and-Answer Session
Christopher Horvers JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
And for anyone who’s around tomorrow, Matt and I will be in this room. In terms of format, I have a series of questions that I’ll cover, and I’ll open up towards the end for questions for those of you in the room. In terms of — we’re going to kick it off and talk a little bit about Foot Locker. We’ve looked at the Foot Locker acquisition as in terms of like playing long ball in terms of balancing the power between you and the vendors at times in the past, vendors have been irrational at times.
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