News

The Vitamin Shoppe is hoping to attract more health-conscious shoppers by sponsoring a health expo this month at all 700 of its stores.

All Vitamin Shoppe stores across the country will host a "Share the Health" Expo from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Each store will provide samples of healthy goodies, offer consultations with local wellness partners, plus tips and recipes for healthy living this summer. The first 50 shoppers at each store will receive a free gift bag with product samples from a selection of brands.

Staples is empowering students to "Make Innovation Happen” with a new program that promotes research, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking.

The retailer's Designed by Students program will allow students from two middle schools, MS88 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga., to participate in a curriculum to foster creative thinking and teach students about designing innovative products. The program provides an original, educational experience to students. Staples is donating $50,000 to both schools as part of the program.

Los Angeles – Accepting an online order and then cancelling it due to inventory shortages is probably the most damaging customer interaction an omnichannel retailer can have. Vertical specialty footwear retailer Chinese Laundry, which operates a direct-to-consumer website as well as two stores in Las Vegas and one in Canoga Park, California, is well aware of this problem.

Sam’s Club members are in for a slew of new services when the retailer launches its lending center this week.

SmartBiz, the exclusive platform for SBA-guaranteed loans for the Sam’s Club Business Lending Center, will provide qualifying Sam’s Club business members with SBA loans with low monthly payments, single digit interest rates, and a simple, streamlined application process.

In addition, SmartBiz developed and runs the technology platform that drives the Sam’s Club Business Lending Center, now available at SamsClub.com/services.

Chicago - It may seem counterintuitive, but retailers should welcome the irate shopper who vents their frustration. That’s because it’s the mistreated customer who walks out the door in a silent huff who places the most revenue at risk, according to a collaborative study of dysfunctional retail touch-points conducted by LoyaltyOne, Verde Group and Dr. Deborah Small, professor of marketing and psychology, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Seattle - Amazon.com continues tweaking its shipping policies. A week after offering free same-day delivery for members of its Amazon Prime loyalty program in select cities, the retailer is now offering all customers free shipping on lightweight items in a program called Fulfillment by Amazon Small and Light.

The eligible goods include cosmetics and mobile phone accessories. There is no minimum purchase requirement, and membership in Amazon Prime, which offers free shipping on all purchases, is not required.

Sterling, Va. – Sixty-four percent of millennial graduates shopped at Target in the last three months, according to new data by Neustar, Inc. The real-time information services and analytics provider uncovered the buying behavior insights of recent millennial graduates and their preferences.

Some insights include: