Mass Merchant

New York City -- Dylan’s Candy Bar has opened an outpost in Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, Calif.

With its bright turquoise walls with a candy-coated ceiling, custom candy-themed light fixtures and signature “Whirly Pop” Tree with its branches of lickable lollipops and candy-inspired apparel and accessories, the shop is modeled after Dylan’s Manhattan flagship. Other Dylan’s stores are located in East Hampton and Roosevelt Field, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; and Houston.

Walmart broke new ground in its media relations efforts this week when EVP Leslie Dach appeared on Comedy Central’s "The Colbert Report." This appearance on Comedy Central was a potentially high risk move as knows anyone who has ever watched host Stephen Colbert interview guest or laughed as correspondents on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart are able to make interview subjects look foolish without them realizing it. Dach is too sophisticated and articulate to allow that to happen and the purpose of his visit was to elaborate on the company’s healthy food initiative.

Miami -- Walmart Latin America CEO Eduardo Solorzano said Thursday in a speech that Walmart is using the company's expertise in sustainability as a means for profitable growth. 

NEW YORK --Dillard’s was the clear winner in the department store category in January, posting a same-store sales increase of 6%, which edged results from both Macy’s and Saks.

JCPenney was the big disappointment, as same-store sales dropped an unexpected 1.2%. A survey of analysts by Thomson Reuters produced a consensus estimate of same-store sales up 1.8%.

The retailer said January sales were impacted by lower levels of clearance inventory as well as by adverse weather conditions.

New York City -- The City Council of San Diego repealed strict limits on new retail supercenters Tuesday amid concerns over the cost of a ballot measure forced by a Walmart-led petition drive, the Associated Press reported.

The 7-1 vote came less than two months after the council required retailers such as Walmart to study how so-called "big-box" stores would affect the economy and traffic. Opponents of the measure said it amounted to a ban.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart announced that the Walmart Foundation committing more than $750,000 in cash and in-kind donations to support emergency relief efforts in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where an estimated 827 people have been killed and thousands have been left homeless following torrential rains and mudslides. A $400,000 donation from the Walmart Foundation will help purchase critical supplies like water, food, medical supplies and long-term relief efforts.

New York City -- Walmart has reached a deal in principle with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, Crain’s New York Business reported. The agreement guarantees union workers will construct or renovate any stores that the chain opens in the city during the next five years, Crain’s New York reported.

The agreement is a win for Walmart, which has faced tough opposition from unions in New York City.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Procter & Gamble and Target have teamed up to offer customers savings on a number of products designed to help them keep those fitness resolutions.