News

BJ’s club Mastercard raises the bar on rewards
BJ's Wholesale Club has introduced a Mastercard program that ups the ante in the wholesale club credit card category. The My BJ's Perks MasterCard will offer members 10 cents off per gallon of BJ's gas every day, up to 5% back on purchases in-club and at BJs.com, 2% back on eating out and non-BJ's gas purchases, and 1% back on purchases made everywhere else MasterCard is accepted.
Lowe’s Q3 sales, profits beat Street on strong home improvement spending
Mooresville, N.C. — Lowe’s Companies raised its full-year profit and sales forecast as strong home improvement spending boosted its profits and sales in the third quarter. An improving job market has led to increased homeowner spending on renovation projects, spurring Lowe’s strong performance. In addition, higher pretax earnings helped improve total net earnings.

Best Buy teams with Ibotta for Black Friday

Minneapolis — Best Buy Co. Inc. is partnering with shopping app provider Ibotta Inc. to drive Black Friday sales at Best Buy stores and on its website. Ibotta will provide Best Buy shoppers an exclusive cash back offer when they purchase more than $100 in-store or online at Best Buy.
Family Dollar delays vote on Dollar Tree deal; Dollar General still in the game

Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Dollar General Corporation isn’t giving up. The deep discounter on Wednesday affirmed its commitment to the acquisition of rival Family Dollar Stores. Dollar General’s comments followed the news that Family Dollar has delayed its shareholder vote on its $8.5 billion deal to be bought by Dollar Tree Inc. from Dec. 11 to Dec. 23.
Hartmann to appear on 'Undercover Boss'

True Value’s boss went undercover, and the cameras were rolling. True Value Company president and CEO John Hartmann will appear in the season six premiere of "Undercover Boss" airing on Dec. 14 on CBS.
Apple Pay expands presence in supermarkets to include Bi-Lo, Shaw’s, Jewel Osco and more

New York - Apple is expanding its Apple Pay across hundreds of supermarkets. Associated Food Stores, Shaw's Supermarkets, Jewel Osco, Albertson's and Bi-Lo Holdings have joined Whole Foods Markets, which was one of the original Apple Pay launch partners, to accept the new payment option. Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, said it is now suporting Apple Pay across its entire southeastern footprint.
Zappos to feed millions this Thanksgiving weekend

Zappos.com says it will celebrate Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend by donating 10 meals per order placed on Zappos.com in partnership with Feeding America, the leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

The company says the objective of its Fast, Free Giving effort is to give back this holiday season and for consumers to put their dollars behind more than just holiday gifts: to help those most in need, too.
Staples gives new meaning to momentum

Same stores sales declined again at Staples North American retail stores in the third quarter, but chairman and CEO Ron Sargent contends the company is gaining momentum on a reinvention strategy.

Sargent is being generous with his usage of the word momentum to describe the performance of the nation’s leading office supplies retailer. The third quarter revealed persistent weakness in retail operations and the international business offset by modest growth in the commercial business.
Target rebounds and tops Street with strong Q3 helped by increased promotional activity

Minneapolis — Target Corp. gained some momentum going into the holiday season with a third quarter that beat both Wall Street and internal expectations as sales as its U.S. stores exceeded estimates and its troubled Canadian division showed signs of improvement. Its results were also driven by increased promotional activity. This was Target’s first quarter under the leadership of CEO Brian Cornell, who replaced Gregg Steinhafel in August.
BJ’s new Mastercard programs ups offerings

New York — BJ's Wholesale Club’s Mastercard program ups the ante in the wholesale club credit card category. The new My BJ's Perks MasterCard will offer members 10 cents off per gallon of BJ's gas, up to 5% back on purchases in-club and at BJs.com, 2% back on eating out and non-BJ's gas purchases, and 1% back on purchases made everywhere else MasterCard is accepted.