Events

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club CEO Rosalind Brewer announced the launch of a collaborative program supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs in 25 cities. The Grow Your Business Boot Camp series offers hands-on training seminars backed by a funding commitment of $500,000 from Sam's Club.

Lowe’s is leveraging the popularity of Disney animated films "Monsters University" and "Toy Story" for its nationwide movie-themed Build and Grow clinics for kids.

The special hour-long clinics, recommended for children in grades two through five, will take place on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. throughout the summer and are free, the company announced.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores  held its annual shareholders meeting on 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.

Fitness and lifestyle brand Athleta is sponsoring this year's Esprit de She 5K and 10K races, designed exclusively for women, to be held Thursday, June 27, at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh.

Athleta's mission to "celebrate and inspire women athletes of all levels" while outfitting them with apparel geared toward athletic pursuits that include yoga, Pilates, running, swimming and biking, is in line with the Esprit de She event.

WESTKLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Dole is on a 4,800-mile banana truck tour in an attempt to get Americans to eat more fruits and veggies, namely bananas. Company representatives will travel for a total of 102 days in a pink-and-turquoise truck during the Peel the Love Summer Food Truck Tour.

SAN DIEGO — Pet specialty retailer Petco is launching a campaign to teach children how to safely approach and interact with dogs. The educative measure aims to lower dog-bite statistics, which drives traffic into its brick-and-mortar stores.

Petco certified dog trainers recommend that children follow the SAFE method, which is explained as follows: 

S: Stop, stand still and turn sideways before getting close to the dog.

NEW YORK — Golfsmith International plans to open its first specialty golf store on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. By positioning its interactive store in the heart of the Big Apple, Golfsmith will reach both New York area golfers as well as tourists visiting the city from around the world.

To mark the store opening, the golf retailer has scheduled a number of activities from Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9, including $50,000 in cash giveaways, golf clinics from instructor Hank Haney and more than $7,500 in prizes.

Another pure online retailer has made the leap to brick-and-mortar. The Monocle Order, an online member’s club for sunglasses and optical frames, has opened a flagship in Brooklyn’s uber hip Williamsburg neighborhood.