Mass Merchant

New York -- In a big loss for American Express, Costco Wholesale Club will no longer accept American Express cards at its U.S. stores starting on March 31, 2016, ending a 16-year-old exclusive relationship with the credit card giant. Costco is one of the few big U.S. retailers that accepts only American Express cards, with by Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and Discover Financial Services cards not accepted at its stores.

Minneapolis – Technology lovers who fall in love have a new online wedding registry option. On Feb. 16, Best Buy Co. Inc. will launch the Best Buy Wedding Registry.

Couples can create and manage their registry online or through the Best Buy mobile app. By early April, in-store kiosks in all Best Buy locations will help registrants and gift-givers view and print wedding registry lists. Couples will also have the option of syncing their registry with MyRegistry.com and TheKnot.com.

Laurel, Md. -- Greenberg Gibbons announced that Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh are opening a combined store at Towne Centre at Laurel, the new $130 million destination on Route 1 in Laurel, Maryland.

Carter’s and OshKosh B’Gosh will open a 7,077-sq.-ft. store in April 2015.  

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1% in 2015, up from 3.5% in 2014, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2015 economic forecast. The increase would mark the biggest annual growth since 2011 when retail sales for the year increased 5.1%. Non-store sales in 2015 are expected to grow between 7% and 10%.

Costco shoppers may soon have other options for payment. American Express says it is ending its 16-year-old exclusive relationship with Costco next year.

Costco is one of the few big U.S. merchants that accepts only American Express cards. Cards branded by Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and Discover Financial Services can’t be used at its warehouse stores.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. has agreed to pay almost $4 million in fines for overcharging customers at stores in Contra Costa, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz and Fresno counties in California. The payment will settle a complaint filed by the San Diego City Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the district attorneys of the affected counties.

The complaint said that Target charged consumers more money at the cash register than was advertised on price tags in aisles, and also misrepresented the weight of packaged food.

Gambrills, Md. -- Greenberg Gibbons announced that SAS is opening a new 2,596-sq.-ft. shoe store at The Village at Waugh Chapel, a mixed-use development in Gambrills, Maryland.

The new store is expected to open in March 2015, located next to Coldstone Creamery and Fuji Modern Asian Cuisine & Sushi Lounge. It joins Safeway, Chipotle, LA Fitness, Marshalls, Homegoods and more.

Hudson, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has named a 25-year retailing veteran, former Shopko exec Jill Soltau, as president, CEO and a member of the board, effective March 2. She succeeds Jim Kerr, who has served as interim CEO since August when Travis Smith stepped down. Kerr will continue as executive VP and CFO.