News

Walmart sets up emergency pharmacy at mega-shelter for hurricane victims
Evacuees from Hurricane Harvey seeking shelter at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas will find a pharmacy on-site to meet their immediate needs. The facility has been turned into a mini-city to house and care for what is expected to be 5,000 evacuees who are being bused and flown into Dallas from the regions devastated by the storm.
Pizza giant may soon deliver pizzas via self-driving cars — no tips required
Domino's Pizza may be adding a new item to its take-out menu — driverless deliveries. The pizza giant is teaming up with Ford Motor Co. to test how well self-driving vehicles can make pizza deliveries. The partners will evaluate how customers react to interacting with a self-driving vehicle within their delivery experience — data that is paramount to understanding how customers perceive the future of food delivery with self-driving vehicles.

Target rolling out another exclusive brand — this time in wine

Target Corp. is giving Trader Joe's some competition — albeit at a slightly higher price — when it comes to bargain-priced wine. On September 3, Target will launch its own line of wines at more than 1,100 stores nationwide. The line, called California Roots, consists of five different blends, with two whites and three reds. And each will sell for $5 a bottle.
Women's apparel retailer beats Street

J. Jill, which went public in March, reported earnings and sales that topped analysts estimates, but provided an outlook that slightly missed forecasts. Net income totaled $11.9 million, or 28 cents a share, in the quarter ended July 29, up from $8.1 million, or 19 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted per-share earnings came to 29 cents, in line with estimates.
Ollie's Bargain Outlets has a blowout quarter as it keeps on expanding

The deals at Ollie's Bargain Outlets were too good for shoppers to pass up in the retailer's second quarter, which topped analysts' expectations. The value retailer, whose motto is "Good Stuff Cheap," said that its net income increased 50.1% to $19.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the quarter ended Aug. 29, from $13.1 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted net income, increased 34.0% to $17.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the quarter.
Consumers buoyant in August as confidence rises

Consumer confidence increased in August to the second highest level since late 2000. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 122.9 in August, up from 120 in the prior month. Economists had expected the index to rise to 122.5 in August. The Present Situation Index increased from 145.4 to 151.2. The Expectations Index rose marginally from 103.0 last month to 104.0.
RILA in partnership with Shoptalk

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Shoptalk, organizer of the annual conference for retail/ecommerce innovation, announced a partnership focused on creating a global community and conversation for retail and e-commerce innovation. The partnership will include Shoptalk Europe, which will be held on October 9-11, 2017 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen. It will also include Shoptalk 2018, which will take place on March 18-21, 2018 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.
Study: Don't underestimate the value of AI

Brands that are not thinking about how to leverage artificial intelligence are already falling behind. This was according to the Retail Revolution study from OMD EMEA, and Goldsmiths, University of London. It is based on 15,000 consumers across 13 European countries.
Regulatory Wrap-Up: Governor of Illinois vetoes minimum wage hike

Wages
Planalytics issues initial estimate on lost retail sales due to Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey, the first Category 4 Hurricane to make U.S. landfall since Charley in 2004, is poised to have the same, if not larger, economic impact.