News

Another retailer matches Walmart wages
Pennsylvania-based food retailers Giant and Martin’s Food Stores said they will begin paying all non-union workers a minimum of $9 a hour beginning in June.

The operator of 200 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia said the move was part of the company’s commitment to provide competitive wages.

"Our associates are the foundation of our success, and we have always believed in paying competitive wages to attract the best talent," said Tom Lenkevich, Giant/Martin’s president.
Survey: Retailers investing in omnichannel, but profits elusive
Scottsdale, Ariz. - Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers are spending to improve their omnichannel sales capabilities. While this may not be surprising given the current business environment, a new report prepared for JDA Software Group Inc. by PwC, “The Omnichannel Fulfillment Imperative,” reveals that only 16% of companies say, the present time, they can fulfill omnichannel demand profitably.

Finish Line subsidiary launches omnichannel training platform

Denver - The Running Specialty Group, a division of The Finish Line Inc., is entering a strategic agreement with Pear Sports, a mobile fitness and training content platform, for the launch of the RSG training channel, an interactive training platform and tracking tool which will integrate with the retailer’s store based training programs nationwide.
Pep Boys trying to get back on track

Despite lower gas prices and an increase in the average age of U.S. cars on the road, Pep Boys posted a wider loss in the fourth quarter.

The auto parts chain had a loss of $26.7 million, or 50 cents a share, vs. a loss of $3.33 million, or 6 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest results included a net charge of $12.4 million for write-downs and severance expenses.
And the most socially responsible companies are…

New York -- Toms and Whole Foods Market grabbed the top spots in a survey of the most socially responsible companies by marketing consultancy Good Must Grow. Rounding out the top five: Microsoft, Starbucks and the Red Cross.

The survey asked consumers to name one company or organization that is socially responsible. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents said they were familiar with the term “socially responsible,” and of those, 77% said it was an important factor in their shopping behaviors.
Ace Hardware opens Ace Center for Excellence

Oak Brook, Ill. - Ace Hardware has launched the Ace Center for Excellence, a new division designed to share the retailer’s strategies and key principles of customer service.

The center’s goal is to help companies improve upon their customer experience based on Ace’s approach through customized solutions, such as keynotes and workshops.
The Walking Company personalizes store experience with Epicor

Santa Barbara, Calif. - The Walking Company, has selected Epicor Retail solutions to support a more personalized in-store customer experience. The retailer has deployed Epicor Retail CRM 7.0 to support the launch of its new loyalty program, and Epicor Retail Clienteling to support improved store associate/customer engagement.

The Walking Company is also rolling out the Epicor Retail Store Point of Sale (POS) solution across its 210-plus store retail enterprise.
Gift cards keep giving at Nordstrom

Leading department store retailer Nordstrom has developed a unique approach to community giving by returning 1% of gift card sales to local nonprofit groups.

Nordstrom will use funds from gift card sales to support two giving programs: Nordstrom-directed corporate contributions and a newly-launched Employee Charitable Match program. For more than 40 years, Nordstrom selects hundreds of organizations to receive cash grants.
Scandinavian retailer Rema 1000 aligns pricing with promotions

Oslo, Norway - Scandinavian multinational supermarket chain Rema 1000 will be leveraging Revionics lifecycle pricing solutions in all product categories across all of its retail stores. Utilizing advanced science and predictive analytics, Rema 1000 will be able to strategically manage pricing and consistently align it with brand image, offer promotions that are compelling and profitable and more accurately forecast and measure key financial metrics.
Innovative Tiles

Innovative Tiles: Ceramic tiles are no longer limited to 8x8 or 12x12 sizes; industry-leading innovator StonePeak designs tile in 48-inch sizes, all the up to 5 ft. x 10 ft., with potentially larger sizes to come. Meet Todd Ward with StonePeak High-Tech Porcelain, who discusses the company’s innovative tile offerings and uses in retail.