Walmart

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart is launching its first-ever original reality series developed for the web. The new weekly web series highlights 20 finalists in the Walmart Get on the Shelf contest, which lets entrepreneurs present products to Walmart customers.

As part of its efforts to strengthen its digital footprint, Walmart has launched its first-ever original reality series developed specifically for the Web. 

The new weekly Web series highlights 20 finalists in the Walmart Get on the Shelf contest, which encourages entrepreneurs to present products to Walmart customers.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. plans to hire 55,000 seasonal associates for the 2013 holiday season, up from 50,000 last year. In addition, the retailer intends to transition more than 35,000 associates from temporary to part-time and another 35,000 associates from part-time to full-time.

Philadelphia -- Wal-Mart Stores and McDonald’s were the only retailers to crack the Hay Group’s eighth annual Best Companies for Leadership Study Top 20 list.

The study surveyed nearly 18,000 individuals at more than 2,200 organizations worldwide to examine how companies develop their leaders and foster cultures of innovation. This year, Procter & Gamble led the Top 20. Wal-Mart ranked No. 7, and McDonald’s came in at No. 8.

Richfield, Minn. -- Sept. 16, is the final day of a four-day promotion Best Buy Co., Inc. is offering to customers who want credit toward purchase of an iPhone 5.

Best Buy will give a minimum $100 trade-in credit for an iPhone 5 to any customers who brings in a working smartphone. Best Buy says that will make the iPhone 5, currently available on several major carriers for $99.99, free. Customers will still have to pay any applicable sales tax and activation fees.

Walmart awarded a $500,000 grant to the Northwest Arkansas Council to support the advancement of healthy living and economic improvement initiatives throughout Northwest Arkansas. 

The grant is part of a three-year commitment by Walmart to fund the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy, a regional growth and development plan spearheaded in 2010 by the Northwest Arkansas Council, local chambers of commerce and other organizations. 

New York -- Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed a controversial bill that would have required Wal-Mart Stores and other large retailers to pay their employees at least $12.50 an hour. The bill applied only to retailers with stores of 75,000 sq. ft. or larger, at least $1 billion in annual sales and non-unionized workforces.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart on Thursday announced its annual holiday top toy list, but this year’s list has a new spin: It was put together with the help of kids. The chain brought together 1,000 kids ages 18 months to 10 years to test, play with, and help select the top toys for the season.

Walmart released an annual top toy list on Thursday with an important distinction from earlier versions – it was selected by kids and will be marketed and merchandise as “Chosen by Kids.”

An already impressive speaker lineup was further strengthened this week when executives from Walmart.com, Salesforce.com, DataRank and Saatchi & Saatchi X were added to the lineup for the Emerging Trends in Retailing conference.