eCommerce

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is not backing down in its challenge to the upcoming July 15 Amazon “Prime Day” event. One day after reducing the minimum online purchase for free shipping from $50 to $35 and reducing prices on thousands of online items, Wal-Mart is going a step further and guaranteeing it will offer lower prices than Amazon.

QVC is ramping up its distribution network on the West Coast with a new, state of the art facility in Ontario, Calif.

The multichannel retailer plans to open a West Coast distribution hub there in 2016. As QVC ramps up operations, the center is expected to employ more than 500 team members by 2018. QVC anticipates hiring approximately 1,000 team members in total by 2020 as the distribution center expands fulfillment to all product categories.

West Chester, Pa. - QVC will open a state-of-the-art distribution center in Ontario, California. When the new facility begins operation in third quarter 2016, it will serve as a West Coast distribution hub for QVC.

As QVC ramps up operations, the center is expected to employ more than 500 team members by 2018. QVC anticipates hiring approximately 1,000 team members in total by 2020 as the distribution center expands fulfillment to all product categories.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings had tapped a Gymboree exec as president and put her in charge of Sears’ Shop Your Way loyalty program.

Sears is using the program to align its online and offline operations.

Now more than ever, today’s consumers want to be treated as individuals rather than a market. No matter which channel is used to interact with brands, some level of personalization is expected. Whether it’s online, mobile or in a brick-and-mortar store, customers want a shopping experience tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

Grapevine, Texas – GameStop Corp. has completed a very geeky purchase. The video game chain has acquired 86% of outstanding shares of Geeknet Inc. in a tender offer that expired July 13, 2015.

GameStop Corp. purchased about 5.92 million shares for $20 per share in cash, or roughly $11.8 million. The retailer will make payment on July 17, 2015.

Minneapolis – One way Target is trying to make shopping for school supplies hassle-free is with the School List Assist online hub. Currently in beta, School List Assist offers a curated assortment of the most common K-8 supplies on the list. Parents can purchase the school supplies their kids need and then pick them up in store or have them shipped to their homes.

Express has recruited a new supermodel to serve as the face of its fall 2015 denim collection.

U.S. supermodel Karlie Kloss will star in the retailer's "Fit for You" advertising campaign photographed by Lachlan Bailey and styled by Claire Richardson. The official campaign launches July 2015 in print, digital, in-store, and on social media.