Events

Walmart’s policy of prohibiting employees from accepting the smallest of gratuities has been in place for a long time and for good reason. Veterans of the company will tell you that early on it was a key driver of success because there was a time when the retail industry was rife with merchants who tended to make buying decisions that were in their best interest as opposed to those of customers.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After exceeding more than $2 million in food and donations, Meijer announced that it once again has launched the Simply Give campaign throughout its stores.

RESTON, Va. — Online U.S. retail spending in second quarter 2011 reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14% versus year ago, comScore reported Monday. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates showed that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports dropped below last year, but are expected to see year-over-year gains again this fall.

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report, volumes will stay below last year through the summer, but will edge up as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season.

New York City -- In his most recent column “Retail Rap with Jeff Green,” Chain Store Age columnist Green challenges the advent of outlet centers, questioning whether there are enough viable outlet center markets to support the growing number of developers who are plugging into the shopping center format.

Click here to read Green’s column.

GOLDEN, Colo. — Blockbuster Express has teamed up with Boston Market for a dinner and a movie deal. Boston Market will offer a voucher for a one night $1 DVD rental with any meal purchased after 5 p.m.

Now through Sept. 10, the “Dinner & A Movie” deal is offered at Boston Market restaurants nationwide. The offer is valid with a minimum $5 purchase before taxes and only one receipt per total purchase per visit. Users will have until Sept. 30, to use the “Dinner & A Movie” voucher from Blockbuster Express.

A slew of retailers are scheduled to report second-quarter earnings in the coming weeks and among the more highly anticipated reports are results from Walmart and Target. 

Walmart is due up first on Aug. 16 followed by Target on Aug. 17.

Reston, Va. -- Online U.S. retail spending in second quarter 2011 reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14% versus year ago, comScore reported Monday. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.