Sales & Marketing

Gift cards certainly have not lost their luster among holiday gift givers and recipients — or Albertsons.   Well aware that three in four consumers (73%) planned to give at least one gift card last holiday season, according to the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) reported, the grocery chain is ready to attract these shoppers again this year. In effort to grab these customers’ wallet share, Albertsons will add the Five Back Visa gift card to its gift card portfolio.  

Walmart is ready to sink its teeth into the world’s largest e-commerce market.   Three months after entering into a strategic alliance with JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce website, Walmart is introducing Chinese shoppers to a new digitally-driven shopping experience. For example, Chinese shoppers got their first taste of Sam’s Club when Walmart opened the doors of its first flagship store in China today.  

Ron Loveless, the first CEO of Sam's Club who grew the retailer for several years before retiring in 1986, has died.   According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Loveless died Monday at the age of 73 after "a long battle with cancer," according to a memo from Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and Sam's Club CEO Rosalind Brewer sent to Sam's Club employees.  

Serena & Lily continue to grow their fledgling store portfolio.   The upscale California-based brand, which started out as catalog company, will open its fifth retail location, at Lido Marina Village, Newport, California, on Saturday, Oct. 22.      

Saks Fifth Avenue has opened its first standalone store dedicated exclusively to footwear.  

On the heels of Golfsmith and The Sports Authority declaring bankruptcy, PGA Tour Superstore is picking up momentum and opening stores.     The privately held chain recently acquired a Sports Authority location in Glendale, Arizona, which it will reopen under its own banner in January 2017. PGA Tour is also planning new stores in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and in Jacksonville, Florida, with both opening in 2017.  

The use of cash remains strong among in-store shoppers.   That’s according to a new survey by Cardtronics, in which 89% of consumers report using cash in the past six months to pay for merchandise in a physical store.    Cash was followed by debit cards, used by 74% of consumers in the last six months, and credit cards, used by 66% of consumers. Eighteen percent of consumers reported using store mobile apps to pay for something in the last six months, and 17% used a mobile wallet. 

PetSmart’s recent acquisition will help place pets with prospective forever families even faster.   The specialty pet retailer acquired AllPaws, one of the largest online and mobile platforms that matches those looking to adopt a pet with pets ideally suited for their home, family and lifestyle. Approximately 5,000 animal rescues and shelters across North America already utilize AllPaws to promote their adoptable pets.