Store Systems

Best Buy hopes to enhance its appeal to customers with innovative products from startups.    The consumer electronics giant has launched a program, called Ignite, that will include dedicated store space for products and services from startups, and a new section on the Best Buy web site where customers can browse, learn about, and purchase the newest products from startups.  

Charles R. (Cork) Walgreen III, former president, CEO, chairman of the board, and chairman emeritus of the iconic U.S.-based drug store chain Walgreens, died at on Monday, Sept. 26, at his home in Lake Forest, Ill. He was 80.

Walgreen was the grandson of Charles R. Walgreen Sr., founder of the 115-year-old pharmacy retailer that now is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance.

CVS Health shoppers have to wait a few more days for curbside pickup.   On the eve of launching its new ‘CVS Curbside Pickup’ service, the chain postponed the launch date due to technical difficulties.    The drug chain was ready to kick-off its app-based curbside pickup service across is 4,000 locations nationwide on Thursday, Sept. 22. However, due to overuse during the company’s soft-launch, the app became sluggish and orders began piling up.   

Target Corp. is putting the kibosh on what probably sounded like a good idea, but turned into what some shoppers called a nightmare.   In a pilot program that started in August, the discounter rolled out mini-shopping carts for kids in approximately 70 stores. But some kids apparently went wild with the little red carts, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported, crashing them into other shoppers, dumping merchandise into them and bruising their ankles and shins. Complaints about the kiddie carts went viral.  

dd's Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, will open its first store in Colorado on Sept. 24.   The new 20,000 sq. ft. store is located at University Square Plaza in Greeley, Col. It is part of the company's 2016 expansion plan to add approximately 20 dd's locations nationally throughout the year.  With the opening, dd's will operate 193 locations in 15 states.  

Chain Store Age will present a webinar on workplace violence — and how to create an emergency response plan to deal with violent incidents — on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. (EDT).   The webinar, sponsored by Center for Applied Learning at American Public University System, will present an overview of the different types of workplace violence, best practices for conducting “active shooter” response training for employees and recognizing signs of potential workplace violence and more.

Century 21 Department Store is getting into the private label credit card game.   The off-price retailer is collaborating with Alliance Data Systems to launch the brand’s first private label credit card. By connecting customized rewards and benefits to the payment card, the retailer expects to drive engagement and brand loyalty.