News

A new payment option will help Williams-Sonoma tap a new customer segment.   The home goods retailer will soon accept the peer-to-peer money-transferring service Venmo for bridal registry purchases. The digital wallet lets users make digital payments — or split payments with other users, according to ReCode.  

There's been a changing of the guard at Dollar Tree as the man who grew the chain into a $22 billion retail powerhouse moves on to a new role.    The discounter has appointed Gary Philbin, enterprise president, as CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Bob Sasser, who will become executive chairman of Dollar Tree's board.   

Amazon is putting Fashion Week couture items into Londoners’ hands within an hour.   Amazon is partnering with designer Nicola Formichetti to offer one-hour delivery to London-based Prime customers. Available items were originally featured on the catwalk during a London Fashion Week fashion show on Saturday night, according to Reuters.  

Amazon continues to bolster its distribution fleet.   The online giant will be adding a new 1 million-sq.-ft. fulfillment center in Monroe, Ohio — its fourth warehouse in The Buckeye State. Amazon will hire 1,000 associates to manage the picking, packing and shipping larger customer items, such as sports equipment, gardening tools, and pet food.    Amazon already operates fulfillment centers in the cities of Etna and Obetz, and is preparing for the opening of a new facility in North Randall.

Eager to get merchandise into shoppers’ hands the same day they place an order, 65% of retailers will offer same-day delivery within two years.   This was according to the “2017 Digital Commerce Benchmark Survey,” from Boston Retail Partners (BRP).   

It's looking increasingly likely that Toys "R" Us may turn to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a way to deal with its massive debt load.    With about $400 million of its $5 billion debt coming due in 2018, the struggling toy retailer could file for bankruptcy as soon as this week, CNBC reported. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/18/toys-r-us-could-file-for-bankruptcy-as-soon-as-this-week-sources-say.html  

Wages

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is expanding its footprint.   The chain has reached an agreement to purchase Speedco, a national network of trucking-focused service locations from Bridgestone Americas.    Speedco has 52 locations. The acquisition will bring the number of Love’s operated tire service and lube facilities to 323. Terms of the deal, subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed.