Strategy

The two biggest specialty pet retailers in the U.S. may merge. According to Reuters, Petco Holdings Inc. is considering a possible acquisition from chief rival PetSmart Inc.

Target Corp., which has operated a proprietary innovation lab in San Francisco since 2013, is eyeing a more outward-focused approach to innovation. Target is partnering with startup accelerator Techstars to open a new retail accelerator program in its hometown of Minneapolis.

Ikea is expanding yet another of its older U.S. stores.

The home furnishings giant has begun demolishing a covered parking structure where it will construct a new, larger store in Renton, Washington, across the 29-acre parcel from its current Seattle-area store.

Razing the building will make room for construction of the new Renton store, slated to open in spring 2017.

Actual store construction likely will commence later this year after completion of the demolition and site preparation.

Two bills passed by a key House committee would help retailers save on store remodeling and improvement costs upfront.

The J.C. Penney Co. Inc. is reportedly planning to overhaul how it serves plus-size customers with a new in-store and online format called “The Boutique.” According to Women’s Wear Daily, Penney will open dedicated plus-size “The Boutique” sections of 12 stores

New York -- Learn how Saks Fifth Avenue used data as the foundation for its energy efficiency initiatives at a Webinar on Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 2 p.m. (EST).  

Gary Levitan, senior manager of energy and utilities for Hudson’s Bay Company, parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, will explain how Saks used data — and how it efficiently identified and leveraged the right data — to make the business case for an efficiency initiative that drove the following benefits:   

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly making a significant investment to support e-commerce operations.

According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Walmart is spending $200 million on a new distribution facility in Polk County, Florida that will be dedicated to fulfilling e-commerce orders.

Vancouver-based specialty online footwear retailer Shoes.com is sprinting toward new levels of fast delivery.

Shoes.com is offering home and office delivery in two hours or less on select items on its Canadian website.

The service costs $19.95 per order and launches Thursday, Sept. 17 in Vancouver and Toronto and surrounding municipalities, with plans to expand to Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa by the end of 2015.

Shoes.com will use a network of local fulfillment centers that have access to the retailer’s technology, operations and marketing.