Retail

Dallas -- To help retailers better understand and act on consumer behavior in the fast changing retail market place, SAP AG announced the SAP Customer Activity Repository application, a new retail data repository powered by the SAP HANA platform. 

The Container Store is turning to Borderfree, a leading global e-commerce platform, to help it expand its international e-commerce reach in time for the holiday season.

Previously only accessible to consumers in the U.S. and Canada, the Container Store’s online product offerings are now available to consumers in Australia, India, Mexico, Germany, France, Japan, Switzerland, Russia and the United Kingdom.

By Doug Brown

With the use of smartphones and other mobile devices continuing to grow, more and more merchants are looking for a way to capitalize on a communication device that many people never put down. And, as the leaders in this area are finding, mobile loyalty and payment incentive programs possess many benefits for chain stores.

Tie mobile and incentives together

New York -- American Express Serve announced a free nationwide cash load network and the addition of new money management capabilities to its full-service reloadable prepaid account. The new features enable Serve customers to load cash for free at more Than 14,000 participating CVS/pharmacy and 7-Eleven stores

The new features include: direct deposit, bill pay, mobile check capture, and personal financial management tools. These enhancements are designed to meet the needs of the nearly 70 million Americans underserved by traditional financial services.

Sears and its Shop Your Way loyalty program are prepared to make a splash in New York next week by playing a major role in the city’s Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine.

New York’s premier culinary event will be held October 18-20 and Sears and Shop Your Way are expanding their presence this year and plan to showcase stylish and affordable lines of patio furniture, Kenmore grills and indoor and outdoor entertainment with Sears designer and TV personality Ty Pennington.

Kansas City — Legends Outlets Kansas City has announced that a Toys “R” Us Express pop-up location is now open at the Village West shopping and dining destination. The 3,954-sq.-ft. store will operate through the holiday season.

New York -- Walmart and Lowe’s have joined the Pacific Business Group on Health Negotiating Alliance (PBGH-NA) to launch the national Employers Centers of Excellence Network that will offer no-cost knee and hip-replacement surgeries for employees at four highly regarded hospitals in the United States.

MasterCard has teamed up with Wired magazine to offer a one-touch shopping experience, right from its iOS device. This “in-content purchasing” concept allows consumers to buy the products they are reading about directly from advertising or editorial content, without ever leaving the page itself.