Mass Merchant

New York -- Walmart has launched the latest installment of its social media-inspired merchandising initiative known as, “Get on the Shelf.”

The program, developed by the company’s digital think tank @WalmartLabs, affords entrepreneurs the ability to have their product featured on Walmart.com and possibly in select Walmart stores. The company issued an open call to anyone with an interesting product to enter between now and July 31 by submitting a video to https://getontheshelf.walmart.com.

Walmart has begun the latest installment of its social media-inspired merchandising initiative known as, "Get on the Shelf."

The program, developed by the company’s digital think tank @WalmartLabs, affords entrepreneurs the ability to have their product featured on Walmart.com and possibly in select Walmart stores. The company issued an open call to anyone with an interesting product to enter between now and July 31 by submitting a video to https://getontheshelf.walmart.com.

Having past the calendar’s mid-point, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the most viewed stories of the year to date on ChainStoreAge.com. (Based on the results,  the ongoing saga of J.C. Penney remains the industry's biggest story.) Here are the Top 10 stories of the first six months:

Miami -- Three new retailers opened at The Palms at Town and Country in Miami during May. They include a 23,070l-sq.-ft. Total Wine & More, a 2,518-sq.-ft. Voodoo BBQ & Grill, a New Orleans-style barbecue restaurant, and a 2,119-sq.-ft. Crazy 8, a kids’ line retailer from Gymboree Corp.

Under construction now and opening in November is a 47,982-sq.-ft. DICK’s Sporting Goods.

For the second time in the past six years, 99 Cents Only said it was unable to file its annual report within the timeframe specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company’s annual report on form 10-K for its fiscal year ended March 30 was due at the SEC no later than June 28. However, because of a range of inventory valuation issues identified by auditors and a new CFO, the company said it was unable to file the report without unreasonable effort or expense. The company did not indicate when it planned to file the report other than as soon as practicable.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties will lease and manage Southlake Mall in Morrow, Ga. Macy’s and Sears anchor the 1 million-sq.-ft. enclosed regional mall. Enclosed malls now represent 30% of Bayer’s operating portfolio.

Bayer has also announced the following new leases:

Philadelphia -- Men’s and women’s apparel retailer, Theory has taken 3,000 sq. ft. at 1616 Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia near Rittenhouse Square, according to Fameco Real Estate.

Fameco represented the building’s ownership group of Federal Capital, Alterra Property and Cross Properties in the transaction.

New York -- Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale will enter Mexico through a licensing agreement with Distribuidora Liverpool, S.A. de C.V. ("Liverpool").

The agreement includes the opening of branded Aeropostale shop-in-shops in Liverpool department stores across Mexico beginning this summer, in addition to rolling out freestanding stores. The first standalone is scheduled to open this summer, in Mexico City’s Sante Fe Mall.