Sales & Marketing

NEW YORK — Walmart is ditching plans to build three stores in Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill on late Wednesday setting a higher minimum wage for large retailers.

“This was a difficult decision for us — and unfortunate news for most D.C. residents — but the council has forced our hand,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo in a statement released after vote, which passed 8 to 5.

Austin, Texas -- Research results released Thursday by coupon site Offers.com found that 67% of U.S. parents with school-aged children plan to spend more than $100 per child on back-to-school shopping this year.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco has started the summer right, reporting sales of $9.92 billion for the month of June, the five-week period ended July 7, an 8% increase over the same period last year. 

For the 44-week period that ended Sunday, sales were $87.05 billion, also an 8% increase over the same period last year. For the month and the 44-week period, same-store sales rose 6%.

Abilene, Texas -- Sam’s Club will open a 136,000-sq. ft. relocated club today in Abilene, Texas. Mayor Norm Archibald and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Redcoat Committee are scheduled to attend the grand opening.

Fresno, Calif. -- Three former Target employees have filed suit against Target Corp., alleging that the retailer discriminated against them for being Hispanic.

The trio, which filed the suit on June 24 in Yolo County, Calif., cited a training document that reminded Target store managers that not all Hispanics eat tacos and burritos, dance to salsa or wear sombreros. They also alleged that Woodland, Calif., warehouse workers used racial slurs when addressing Hispanic workers.
   

Hollywood, Fla. -- A.R.E. (Association for Retail Environments) has appointed Todd Dittman executive director, succeeding Klein Merriman, who will retire in August. In this role, Dittman, a marketing and finance executive with more than 20 years of experience, will lead A.R.E. and manage Pave, the industry educational foundation, and the Retail Design Institute, working with each organization’s volunteer officers and boards of directors. The appointment is effective Aug. 1.

By Niclas Qvist, Pricer

Walmart, Target, Best Buy and other retailers created a cooperative nearly a year ago to develop a mobile payment approach and this week they welcomed another major player to the fold.