Sales & Marketing

Palo Alto, Calif. — Shopkick has been named by the World Economic Forum as one of the world’s most innovative technology startups for 2013. Shopkick is one of two mobile companies selected worldwide.

Previously honored companies include Twitter, Dropbox, Wikipedia, Palantir, Bloom Energy and Google.

New York -- Barnes & Noble announced that it will enter into a partnership with British retailer John Lewis to offer its Nook electronic readers in the United Kingdom.

John Lewis is the first Nook partner for Barnes & Noble outside the United States.

“John Lewis is where knowledgeable customers turn for trusted advice on the best products to purchase, and they are a perfect partner to help launch Nook in the U.K.,” said Jamie Iannone, president of digital products at Barnes & Noble.
 

St. Louis, Mo. -- Brown Shoe Co Inc. on Tuesday  posted a smaller second-quarter loss, helped by cost-cutting and higher sales at its Famous Footwear stores. The retailer also raised the lower end of its full-year profit outlook.

Brown Shoe’s quarterly loss narrowed to $2.5 million, compared with a loss of $4.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue decreased  to $599.3 million. Same-store sales rose 3.9%.
 

Toronto -- LoyaltyOne announced that Supervalu has agreed to use its Precima customer-centric analytics solution to develop a multi-dimensional customer segmentation. The U.S. grocer expects the solution will strengthen and expand its customer-driven marketing, merchandising and operations strategies.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As tropical storm Isaac barrels down on the Gulf Coast area, CVS/pharmacy has announced that, while complying with any mandatory evacuation order given by local officials, it is keeping its stores in affected areas open for as long as possible and stocking them with such storm preparedness items as water, batteries, flashlights and other products to help in an emergency.

NEW YORK — U.K. retailer John Lewis has become the first company outside of the United States to partner with Barnes & Noble for the sale of Nook devices.

John Lewis will offer Nook products at  37 U.K. stores and on www.johnlewis.com. As previously disclosed, Barnes & Noble will also offer Nook devices and content to U.K. customers this autumn through its own online storefront, www.nook.co.uk.

San Francisco -- Premier Retail Networks LLC and Digital Display Networks Inc., creator and operator of 7-Eleven TV, announced a multi-year agreement under which PRN will be the exclusive advertising representative for 7-Eleven® TV. The agreement is effective immediately.
 
Under the new agreement, PRN will offer brands the opportunity to reach 100 million viewers monthly on 7-Eleven TV, America's largest single chain digital out-of-home network installed in approximately 4,400 locations.
 

New York -- Self-checkout technology continues to rise in importance at retailers in North America, according to a new study  by IHL Group.
 
The 2012 North American Kiosk Study finds that self-checkout shipments are increasing 8% year to year, with self-checkout transactions exceeding $255 billion annually in North America. Kooking Transactions are growing better than 7% per year in North America, and expected to grow past $1.0 trillion by 2014.