Mass Merchant

Back to School: Trends to Watch
The calendar may only say July, but retailers are already promoting back-to-school.

Here are four promotional trends the folks at Market Track predict will play out this selling season:

• Retailers/e-retailers creating new mid-year “Black Friday” type events concurrent with Back to School. (e.g., Amazon's Prime Day, Target’s Black Friday in July, etc.)
Nordstrom: Madewell partnership grows
Seattle - Nordstrom and J. Crew Group are expanding a merchandising partnership.

Nordstrom is doubling the number of stores that will carry J. Crew’s Madewell brand of women’s apparel items and accessories.

The department store retailer plans to expand the number of stores carrying Madewell products from 15 to 30 by the end of July, with Nordstrom.com also offering Madewell goods. Nordstrom is the only U.S. retailer to sell a broad assortment of Madewell merchandise, outside of Madewell stores.

Walmart takes a White House pledge

New York -- Walmart has joined an elite group of corporate titans in taking a pledge to fight climate change. Among other things, the retail giant will double its solar commitment.

Walmart on Monday signed a pledge to take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase low-carbon investments and invest in clean energy as part of a new White House climate change initiative, the “American Business Act on Climate Pledge.”
Sinclair named head merchant at 99 Cents Only

Growth prospects for the food and consumables business at 99 Cents Only just improved considerably following the appointment of a former Walmart EVP of merchandising to a key role.
99 Cents Stores names Wal-Mart grocery VP as merchandising head

City of Commerce, Calif. - 99 Cents Only Stores LLC has named Jack L. Sinclair as chief merchandising officer. Sinclair will be responsible for merchandising and marketing functions.
Survey highlights top obstacles to EMV readiness

Atlanta -- A sizeable number of businesses won’t meet the EMV transition deadline, according to a survey by Randstad Technologies.
Best Buy knows what time it is

A month after the launch of the Apple watch, Best Buy will become the first national retailer to stock the new wearable.

The watch will be available in more than 100 Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com. By the time holiday season arrives, an additional 200 stores will feature the watch.

“The Apple Watch is a big addition to our stores and website, and we know our customers want it,” said Jason Bonfig, senior category officer at Best Buy. “We are excited to bring the Apple Watch to more consumers, especially with the holidays coming up.”
Report: Major new player may enter grocery vertical

Seattle – Everyone from mass merchandisers to dollar stores has been getting into the grocery business in recent years, and the vertical may soon have a new and very large participant.
Report: Target plans solar expansion

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is reportedly planning to expand upon existing solar plans for its North Carolina store base. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, Target has added eight stores to the existing 19 stores in the state it plans to equip with rooftop solar panels.
Report: Another digital giant overtakes Wal-Mart

Seattle – Last month Facebook overtook Wal-Mart in valuation, and now another digital giant has reportedly achieved the same feat. According to the Associated Press, after intense after-hours trading, which followed Amazon’s rare report of a second quarter fiscal 2015 profit, Amazon now has market capitalization of about $264 billion.

Back to School: Trends to Watch

Nordstrom: Madewell partnership grows

Walmart takes a White House pledge

Sinclair named head merchant at 99 Cents Only

99 Cents Stores names Wal-Mart grocery VP as merchandising head

Survey highlights top obstacles to EMV readiness

Best Buy knows what time it is

Report: Major new player may enter grocery vertical

Report: Target plans solar expansion

Report: Another digital giant overtakes Wal-Mart