Club & Warehouse

Sam's Club is looking to gain an edge over Costco by overhauling its already first-in-its-category buy online, pick up in store service to appeal to more business customers.

Boston - For the third year in a row, Amazon claims the top spot in Reputation Institute’s annual survey of America’s top 50 most reputable companies in the retail industry. Amazon is the only company of all the retail companies surveyed to achieve an excellent reputation.

Supermarket chains moved up in the ranking this year, with Publix ranking second and Whole Foods jumping five spots to third place in 2015.

America’s top 10 companies in the retail industry in 2015 are:

1. Amazon.com

For the third year in a row, Amazon has claimed the top spot in the Reputation Institute’s annual survey of America’s 50 most reputable companies in the retail industry.

Bentonville, Ark. - Sam’s Club is partnering with SmartBiz as the exclusive platform for SBA-guaranteed loans for Sam's Club Business Lending Center, a digital platform for small businesses. As a Business Lending Center participant, SmartBiz will provide qualifying Sam's Club business members with SBA loans.

Costco reported a bump in U.S. same store sales for the month of May, but international comps declined.

Sam’s Club members are in for a slew of new services when the retailer launches its lending center this week.

SmartBiz, the exclusive platform for SBA-guaranteed loans for the Sam’s Club Business Lending Center, will provide qualifying Sam’s Club business members with SBA loans with low monthly payments, single digit interest rates, and a simple, streamlined application process.

In addition, SmartBiz developed and runs the technology platform that drives the Sam’s Club Business Lending Center, now available at SamsClub.com/services.

Issaquah, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp. reported rising profit in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. But a surging dollar and low gas prices resulted in sluggish sales growth and an unusual same-store sales decline, the company’s first quarterly drop since 2009.

Net income increased 9% to $516 million from $473 million, aided by relatively flat operating expenses.

Total revenue for the quarter, ended May 10, increased 1% to $26.1 million, below Wall Street expectations, from $25.8 million last year.

Costco Wholesale Corp. reported its first quarterly decline in same store sales since 2009, although profit at the club store did rise.

Same store sales declined 1% in the third quarter ended May 10, including fuel and foreign currency impacts. This was below the 0.7% growth expected by analysts. The company said sales were hurt by low gas prices and a stronger dollar that reduced the value of sales from overseas markets.