Mass Merchant

Walmart is ensuring all in-store merchandise is ready for shoppers when they want to make a purchase.  

Wegmans Food Markets is expanding its footprint with a new concept.    In a first for the 101-year-old grocer, Wegmans said it will open a two-level store, at Natick Mall, Natick, Mass., with direct access to the shopping center. The 134,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in a building that formerly housed one of the mall's anchors, J.C. Penney.    

Shoppers just can't stay away from off-price stores.   Ross Stores' earned $317 million, or 82 cents a share, in the quarter ended July 29, up 15% from $282 million, or 71 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Analysts had expected earnings of $0.76 per share.   Sales rose 8% to $3.43 billion. Same-store sales increased 4%.  

The second quarter numbers show that Walmart remains firmly on the front foot and is more than holding its own in a challenging and competitive retail market. It is particularly pleasing to see sales growth accelerate since Q1 -- a clear sign that the various initiatives and investments are paying dividends.  

Target Corp. is giving shoppers an early look at three new private brands that will debut in its stores starting in late August.    The retailer has posted details about the brands, along with photos from their look books, on its website. The three new collections are part of 12 private-label brands Target plans to launch during the next 18 months.    Here is a look at the three brands:

A New Day

CBL is getting ready to open its 28th Dick’s Sporting Goods store, this one at Richland Mall in Waco, Texas.   “This new store will drive significant traffic to the center and illustrates our ongoing commitment to enhancing the tenant mix at the property,” said CBL CEO Stephen Lebovitz.   Other new arrivals at Richland include H&M, PINK, and White Barn. Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret recently completed remodels. Dick’s is set to open in spring 2018.

A discount giant is using its newest acquisitions to connect with its millennial shoppers.   During an earnings call, Walmart revealed that it’s trendy, upscale Bonobos or ModCloth brands will soon be sold via jet.com. This move highlights how Walmart plans to leverage its Jet division to target the millennial shopper, according to Business Insider.  

Alibaba Group’s e-commerce business’ profit increase contributed to a blockbuster quarter for China’s top online player.   For the period ended June 30, China’s largest online retailer reported total revenue of 50.1 billion RMB ($7.1 billion U.S.), an increase of 56% year-over-year. This beat analysts' estimates of 47.7 billion RMB, according to Thomson Reuters. Net income was 14 billion RMB $2 billion U.S.).