Target, Inc.

By Doug Lodder, [email protected]

Mobile device users have the world at their fingertips. Consumers today can use their smartphone or tablet to manage their finances, diagnose their own symptoms, and even use apps as a personal stylist while shopping.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Insite Software, a leading provider of B2B e-commerce platforms and shipping solutions, has appointed David Ricketts as its SVP of sales.

Ricketts has more than 15 years of experience in software sales management, working with retailers, wholesalers, manufactures, distributors and consumer packaged goods companies to expand sales revenues via B2B and B2C e-commerce, omnichannel commerce and mobile, social and tablet commerce.

In a recent interview, Walgreens’ CEO Greg Wasson spoke at length about the ways in which the drug store chain is evolving. I thought the interview (posted online under the title Walgreens gets a modern makeover), was fascinating, particularly where Wasson explained the company’s bold plans to “reimagine” its stores.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is getting ready to expand its rapidly evolving online beauty business with its planned acquisition of the DermStore Beauty Group. 

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. announced plans to acquire online beauty retailer DermStore for an undisclosed sum.

The move will allow Target to further tap into the online beauty market, as well as continue its trend toward acquiring specialty businesses to ramp up its presence in various niche markets. In March, Target announced its acquisition of Chefs Catalog and Cooking.com in two separate transactions to create a subsidiary.

Target’s second quarter just ended and if the dourest of back-to-school spending forecasts proves correct the company’s expectations for same-store sale growth in the range of 2% to 3% could prove optimistic and its third quarter outlook could come under pressure.

Target’s EVP of stores, Tina Schiel, and senior group manager of store planning, Nancy Devine, dug through the retailer’s photo archive and weighed in on the company’s evolving design philosophy.

Back-to-school season is underway in Canada and for Target, which opened its first stores in Canada earlier this year, the stakes could not be higher.