Strategy

Mom’s Organic Market is extending its renewable energy portfolio.    The family owned and operated Maryland-based chain has begun purchasing all power from a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland., bundled with national solar renewable energy credits.   This 1.5-megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. Mom’s will purchase the entire system's output for the next 20 years.  

Adidas is doubling down on its relationship with Kanye West, the outspoken entertainer who doubles as a fashion designer.    The German sportswear giant and West are expanding their very successful Yeezy brand via a new partnership called adidas + Kanye West. The Yeezy-branded collection will consist of footwear, apparel and accessories for all genders that will work across street and sport.    

Home décor retailer Pier 1 Imports swung to a loss in its first quarter amid heavy promotions caused by weak sales.   The chain reported a loss of $6 million for the quarter ended May 28, compared to net income of $6.9 million in the year-ago period.   Revenue fell 4.2% to $418.4 million in the quarter, also less than expected. Same-store sales were down 2.5%.  

Wal-Mart Stores, which filed suit against Visa in May over debit card authorization, is getting taste of its own medicine.  

Dick’s Sporting Goods was the victor on Thursday at the bankruptcy auction for former rival Sports Authority Holdings.    Dick’s bid $15 million for the brand name and other intellectual property, beating British-based Sports Direct International PLC’s $13 million bid, according to the Wall Street Journal.      Dick’s also had the winning bid at the auction for 31 Sports Authority store leases, for an additional $8 million, the report said.  

Macy’s may be flailing, but the department store icon can’t be accused of taking its struggles lying down. As sales were falling 7.4% in the first quarter of 2016 (numbers that represented the fifth straight quarter of declining sales, and capped off a year in which Macy’s stock prices were nearly halved at 47%), Macy’s continues moving forward on plans to roll out its new off-price Backstage concept – both as a series of new stand-alone stores and as in-store locations integrated inside a number of existing Macy’s stores.

Racine, Wisconsin’s planning commission has overturned the local Regency Mall’s policy to suit the signage requirements of new retailers there, according to a report in The Journal Times.   When J.C. Penney closed its doors at the CBL & Associates-owned mall, the vacant space was favorably distributed among three new tenants. All three, however, had issues with the space allotment for their signs.   

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly welcoming a ruling striking down the 2012 settlement of a class action lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard’s credit card swipe fees.   The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York overturns a December 2013 approval of the settlement by U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson.