Mass Merchant

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly raising wages for some employees in specialized departments beginning in July. According to the Associated Press, managers of more complicated departments like automotive and electronics will have their pay range increased to $13 - $24.70 per hour, from $10.30 - $20.09 per hour.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General on Saturday hit another milestone, opening its 12,000th store in the small town of Juliette, Georgia.
 

Walmart is furthering its $100 million commitment to industry workforce development with a big grant to the NRF Foundation.

An $800,000 grant from Walmart to the NRF Foundation will work with employers to determine the competencies needed in the industry and the potential for a new industry-validated credentialing program to help store and distribution center employees advance their careers.

Chicago -- Retailers looking for opportunities in emerging markets should look East, particularly to China, which ranks as the top country in A.T. Kearney’s annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI). China, which returns to number one in the GRDI rankings for the first time since 2010, is expected to surpass the United States as the world's largest retail market by 2018.

Cincinnati -- George Zimmer, the founder and former head of Men’s Wearhouse, is back with a new business, called ZTailors, that will enable customers to order on-demand tailors to provide alterations. Using the service’s website or app, customers can schedule a tailor to come to their home or office to take the necessary measurements, with the altered items returned in several days.  

“It’s Uber for tailors,” Zimmer told the New York Times.

Fast growing retailer Five Below is bolstering it supply chain capabilities in the northeast with a new facility that will eventually exceed one million square feet.

The retailer of of value merchandise for teens announced the it will open a new distribution center in Oldmans Township, N.J. The 1,045,000 square-foot facility, located at 5 Gateway Boulevard, Pedricktown, N.J., will replace the company's existing 421,000 square foot facility located 12 miles away in New Castle, Del.

Amazon  is facing increased competition these days. In some of the more publicized developments, subscription-based e-commerce site Jet.com is taking off soon, EBay is piloting a service to compete with Amazon Prime in Germany, and Google is reportedly planning to introduce a “buy” button that will turn searches into transactions.

Beyond the natural competition any successful business generates, there are specific factors making it more appealing than ever for retailers of all sizes to try taking on Amazon. Here are three of the most significant ones.

New York -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled against Abercrombie & Fitch in favor of a Muslim woman who filed a lawsuit after she was denied a job at a store operated by the retailer because she wore a head scarf for religious reasons. The ruling sends the case back to a lower court for further consideration.