Strategy

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation is out with its annual Giving Report, which puts a monetary value on all the ways the retailer and its charitable arm sought to make a difference during the 2015 fiscal year.

From a big picture standpoint, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated more than $1.4 billion in cash and in kind donations, primarily food, and Walmart’s 2.2 million employees also contributed more than 1.5 million hours of their time outside of work to volunteer causes.

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, especially during the season to be jolly, but I’m a realist. And though I wish happy holidays for all, I must tell mall retailers to steel themselves for another disappointing holiday season. Deloitte is expecting seasonal sales growth of 3.5% to 4% this year, ahead of inflation but below the 5.2% growth of last year — but don’t expect malls and department stores to see that growth. A disproportionate share of holiday sales will go to the humble discount stores, far away from the fancier shopping centers.

The former president of Trader Joe's has created a supermarket concept in the Boston area that offers fresh, healthy food at affordable prices. Now just a few months since opening, the store boasts over 300 customers visiting daily and has begun to look into expanding with a second location in the Boston area. [Food World News]

In the final push to capture last minute sales, Macy’s has resorted to giving away $4.5 million in cash to customers at its stores across the country.

The promotion, which was not offered last year, was announced in a press released distributed at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19. The company said it would distribute $10 gift cards to the first 250 customers at 600 of its stores from Sunday, Dec. 20 through Tuesday, Dec. 22. The cards are only redeemable in store and must be used during the three day promotional window.

Levis Strauss & Co. has named a new leader with experience at Nike, Petco and Target to drive growth at its 2,700 unit global retail division.

Levi Strauss & Co. said Carrie Ask will join the company on Feb. 16, 2016 as executive vice president and president of global retail. She fills a position that has been vacant since June when Craig Nomura resigned after just 16 months with the company. Ask will report directly to Chip Bergh, president and CEO of the $4.8 billion global apparel company.

I don’t make mobile payments yet. I don’t drink coffee, so I do not frequent Starbucks. However, I have been attempting to get up to speed on the state of the market. As I have a phone running Android, v5.1.1, that’s the best place for me to start, as that’s where my familiarity lies.

J.C. Penney’s efforts to become a world class omnichannel retailer are under the leadership of a new chief information officer with a unique background.

J. C. Penney appointed Therace Risch as executive vice president and chief information officer, effective immediately. Risch joins the retailer from COUNTRY Financial, and succeeds Scott Laverty.

A week after Walmart announced it would launch a mobile payment solution, one of its chief rivals is reported to be working on the same.

Target Corp. is in the early stages of developing its own mobile wallet, according to Reuters, but it has not yet committed to launching the product.

Walmart has recalled marketing executive Tony Rogers from his post in China to lead the retailer’s domestic marketing efforts.

Dov Charney, the founder and ousted CEO of American Apparel, continues with his efforts to regain control of the company. But with the chain slated to emerge from bankruptyc in mid-January, time is running out, Bloomberg reported.

Read more by clicking here.