Mass Merchant

Minneapolis -- Target announced it will now offer shoppers the shopkick app via their smartphones. The service will allow shoppers to earn points for shopping at Target that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.

“In our test launch, Target guests in seven cities had the opportunity to experience shopkick at Target and we received rave reviews. Now guests nationwide can start earning valuable points just by shopping our stores,” said Bonnie Gross, Target VP marketing and guest engagement.

First it was the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) , now another California pension group (CalPERS) is looking to influence the Wal-Mart Stores board by withholding votes for nine members, according to Reuters. Read more.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has joined the Shopkick program, making it the largest retailer to reward its guests for using the app via their smart phones. Target guests nationwide can earn points for shopping at Target that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.
 

MAVENEL, N.J.  — MIZCO International has introduced an entire line of universal tablet accessories under the company’s DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, and Travelocity brands. All of the new accessories, according to MIZCO president and CEO Albert Mizrahi, are designed to work with both the Apple iPad as well as Android based tablets.
 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Kmart announced it is launching an in-store bill pay program that will allow customers to pay bills from more than 3,000 companies—everything from electric, gas and cable bills to credit card statements and auto loans.

The program is being offered through the CheckFreePay walk-in bill payment service from Fiserv (FISV). Customers seeking an easy and convenient way to pay bills in person can now visit any Kmart store nationwide.

Seattle -- Retail companies are more able and willing to reinvest in their businesses, as evidenced by sharp increases in 2012 capital expenditure budgets, according to a new white paper released by Colliers International.

The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center will finally receive a home of its own. The center, which was founded in 2005 as part of the Information Technology Research Institute in The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas will be housed at 1637 Fred Hanna Drive in Fayetteville. This will be the third location for the research center since it was founded.

Target may be investing in expanding its offering of fresh food under its PFresh remodeling initiative, but it has a long way to go before it is considered a top grocery destination, at least according to a survey from Market Force Information.