Strategy

For Tractor Supply Company, buy-online-pickup-in-store is proving a win-win, for both itself and its customers.    With more than 1,600 stores in 49 states, Tractor Supply is the nation's largest operator of stores dedicated to a rural lifestyle. Online and offline, it offers a wide range of merchandise, from welders and generators to an-imal care products to men and women's workwear. Stores are typically located in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and in rural com-munities.   

Nike is opening up shop on Amazon.   The sportswear giant has entered into a pilot program with the online giant to sell a limited (at least initially) selection of footwear, apparel, and accessories on the online site. Nike products have long been available on Amazon, but only through unauthorized third party sellers. This will be the first time that Nike has sold directly on the Amazon.   

The RoomPlace growing its store portfolio.   The family-owned company has opened a new showroom and warehouse distribution center in Indianapolis. The location is part of a strategic initiative to expand the furniture retailer's footprint in the city.   The new outpost also marks The RoomPlace's 25th store, with locations across Illinois and Indiana. It is one of the company's largest, at over 70,000 sq. ft. features a 16,000-sq.-ft. clearance center.   

Williams Sonoma will open the largest version yet of its new dual-concept format, which combines its traditional kitchen and food products with home furnishings.  

The drug store industry awoke Thursday morning to arguably the biggest story of the year — the news that Walgreens and Rite Aid had agreed to scrap their original merger agreement one more time, this time in favor of a much smaller, seemingly more manageable deal to purchase 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.18 billion in cash.    In the first several hours following the announcement of the deal, Chain Store Age sister publication, Drug Store News identified five important takeaways from the blockbuster agreement. 

Alimentation Couche-Tard has closed on the biggest transaction in its history.    The Canadian company announced that it has completed its $4.4 billion acquisition of CST Brands. The deal will add approximately 1,300 stores to the Couche-Tard portfolio, including 666 locations in Texas.   

With home remodeling and housing starts on the rise, The Tile Shop is in a sweet spot. The specialty retailer of manufactured and nature stone tiles, which reported a 8.8% increase in net sales and a 4.9% increase in same-store sales for its first quarter, displays its collections in a showroom-like environment that includes full-room tiled displays and a design studio where customers can utilize 3D renderings to visualize their design ideas.   

Proposed cuts in food stamp benefits could cost the the retail industry billions — with supermarkets and discounters taking the biggest hit.    AlixPartners estimates that retail collectively stands to lose $70.7 billion during the next 10 years if the proposed cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly referred to as food stamps) turn into reality, CNBC reported. The budget proposed by the Trump administration calls for $191 billion in cuts to the program between 2018 to 2028.