Finance & Capital Management

Target’s food-based innovation lab, which was targeted to be shut down, may get a second lease on life.   Target’s Food + Future lab initiative ended up on the retailer’s chopping block — along with other innovative projects — as it refocuses efforts on its core business. However, on Tuesday, April 17, sources said an inves-tor approached the chain with an offer, reported the Star Tribune.   

Three experts have joined JLL’s brokerage team in Houston. Donna Kolius, Pierce Owens, and Kaylie Walker will be focusing on multi-market dispositions, national portfolio strategies, and sale leasebacks, which will help expand JLL’s disposition business.   

Global companies agree that innovation is critical to survival but not enough projects are successfully driving growth and increasing revenue.   Specifically, two-thirds (66%) of global organizations said innovation is crucial to their longevity, but only 28% are seeing returns on their investments (ROI), according to “Innovation Matters,” a report from PA Consulting Group. The report tapped 821 senior executives across C-level, senior VP, board and director level positions.  

Walmart wants its suppliers to join the retailer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their operations and supply chains.  

Managing a diverse inventory and high transaction volume is no laughing matter.   This process becomes even harder when data is being supported by a legacy merchandising system. Ready for a change, Spencer’s conducted “an exhaustive search of the enterprise retail systems market,” according to the chain’s CIO Carey Lowrey.  

GNC Holdings’ income and revenue declined in the first quarter, but the company said it is encouraged by the results of its marketing and pricing revamp.    Net income totaled $23.9 million, or 35 cents per share during the quarter, compared with $50.8 million, or 69 cents per share, in the year-ago period year. Adjusted earnings were 37 cents per share, which was above estimates.   Revenue totaled $644.8 million during the quarter from $668.9 million last year, but still above estimates. 

There’s no denying that Amazon has changed the face of retail, but there are many misconceptions about how the company actually operates. Many wrongly believe that Amazon makes most of its profits from e-commerce, while others incorrectly view Amazon as the long-tail poster child. Unfortunately, these fallacies are leading many retail companies into making bad strategic business decisions as they try to duplicate Amazon’s success.   The following is a breakdown of some Amazon myths along with a few takeaways: 

PetSmart has beefed up its digital offerings with the acquisition of the leading online retailer of pet food and products.   The chain said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chewy, which was founded in 2011 and offers a wide selection of products for pets, ranging from cats and dogs to horses. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of PetSmart’s second fiscal quarter of 2017.