Marketing

India tops an annual list of the 30 top developing countries for retail investment, pushing China, which took the No. 1 spot for the past several years, into second place.  

J.C. Penney is determined to become college-bound co-eds’ shopping destination for all of their dorm room needs.  

At Home reported a strong first quarter, helped by the addition of 23 new stores the chain opened in the past 12 months — and there are more on the way.   

Consumers rank Wegmans, Publix Super Markets, and Amazon.com as the top three companies when it comes to corporate social responsibility efforts.   

Macy’s is toying with a lofty idea that could create more traffic at its Herald Square store in New York City.  

Williams-Sonoma's West Elm division has tapped a company veteran as its new president.    Alex Bellos, head of Williams-Sonoma's Rejuvenation and Mark and Graham brands, is succeeding Jim Brett as president of the West Elm brand. On Tuesday, Brett announced he was resigning from the company to take a position as CEO of J.Crew.   

Supermodel, designer, TV star and all-around celebrity Heidi Klum is teaming up with an unusual partner.    On the heels of its entry into the United States, German discount grocer Lidl announced its first ever fashion collaboration, with Heidi Klum. The collection, described as high-end yet affordable, will be available exclusively at Lidl and will launch across its stores in Europe and the United States later this year. Collections will be featured at certain times throughout the year, during "Lidl Fashion Weeks.”

The battle for low-income shoppers is heating up.    Amazon announced that individuals participating in government assistance programs can sign up for Amazon Prime membership at the discounted rate of $5.99 per month. The regular annual membership for Prime is $99 per year, or $10.99 a month for those who prefer to pay on a monthly basis.  

Walmart is once again raising the stakes in the online grocery game.   In another move that takes a direct hit at AmazonFresh Pickup, the discounter quietly began testing an automated kiosk at a single store in Oklahoma. The 20-ft.-by-80-ft. kiosk, which resides in the parking lot at the Walmart Super Center in Oklahoma City, is fulfilling hundreds of grocery orders placed by customers who shop online or through their mobile browser, according to The Oklahoman.  

Meijer plans to open its smallest urban store yet — but with a twist.   The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocer’s newest store will be nearly 30,000 sq. ft., but it won’t feature the Meijer moniker. Instead, the store will go by the name, Bridge Street Market. Construction begins in July, and is expected to be open for business in the early fall of 2018.