Strategy

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Visa has signed agreements with three leading mobile point-of-sale providers to enable merchants of all sizes to accept Visa payments using mobile technology. Early adopters include iZettle, SumUp and SCCP Group’s Swiff — all of whom will have their mobile acceptance hardware and software tested and approved for use with Visa payments.

New York -- Isaac Mizrahi has returned to the retail scene. Xcel Brands on Friday announced the debut of Isaac Mizrahi New York, in Southampton, N.Y. (Xcel is the designer’s parent company).

"This is a very exciting opportunity for Xcel and the brand,” said Isaac Mizrahi, creative director, Xcel Brands. “It's great for the consumer to see all products coming together in our own new retail environment."

NEW YORK — Target has set its sights on consumers who want organic, natural products, with a new organic and natural store brand called Simply Balanced, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Target told the AP that it will begin to roll out drinks and snacks like corn chips on Sunday, June 9. According to the report, the line is an outgrowth of similar products within its existing Archer Farms store brand, which is positioned as a premium alternative to national name brands.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s board of directors has given the company the green light to repurchase $15 billion of its shares, effective June 6, the company announced at its annual shareholders meeting. 

This program replaces the previous $15 billion program announced on June 3, 2011. As of June 6, the company had approximately $712 million remaining on the 2011 Authorization. Under the share repurchase program, repurchased shares are constructively retired and returned to unissued status.

By John Paluszek, [email protected]

This time it is different.
 
But the question remains: Is it different enough? Let us, then, count the ways.
 
The “tipping point” may seem facile, but the current dramatic increment of tragic incidents is now more toxic to more corporate reputations.  That’s a big deal, generating a new dimension of company action.
 

J.C. Penney has a lot riding on its new home department makeover. Industry analysts say the revamp, a central element of former CEO Ron Johnson’s plan to transform the chain, is critical to the department store’s future. Home represented 12% of Penney’s sales in 2012, down from 15% in 2011. It was the worst performing category last year.

The world’s largest company held its annual shareholders meeting Friday morning and the most noteworthy development at the event — aside from a $15 billion share repurchase authorization — was a surprise appearance and glowing comments by Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise.

Chicago -- A lot of IT practitioners talk about “keeping the lights on,” or executing simple but essential tasks such as making sure an e-commerce site is actually up and running. For Michael Hines, VP of e-commerce technology at The Jones Group, keeping the lights on involves a lot more than flipping a switch.