News

The 3-D printer movement got a boost months ago when Home Depot began offering 3-D printers and scanners for sale through its website.

Now the world’s largest home improvement retailer is bringing the products to shelves in select markets. Home Depot is introducing MakerBot 3-D printers and scanners in select stores in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

On the retailer’s website, a fifth-generation MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3-D Printer sells for $2,899. A MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner is priced at $799.

Sears and Kmart recently announced they will allow pickup of Sears.com or Kmart.com orders at any of each other's more than 2,000 U.S. stores. Customers will be able to select free store pickup and a preferred pickup location for specially marked online items. The retailers are even taking the digitally progressive step of offering online video instruction through the YouTube channel for members of the Sears/Kmart Shop Your Way omnichannel loyalty program.

A range of new Samsung brand smart printers and tablet computers are being added to the product mix at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores following an expanded partnership between the retailer and consumer electronics company.

Spartanburg, S.C. - Denny's Corp. has launched its new Spanish-language Facebook page, Denny's Latino. As part of the brand's integrated communications efforts to connect with customers at different touch-points, the Denny's Latino page includes original and curated content designed to actively engage with online Latinos, and promote ongoing dialogue with this audience.

Mylan has entered into a definitive agreement with Abbott whereby Mylan will acquire Abbott's non-U.S. developed markets specialty and branded generics business in an all-stock transaction.

Upon closing, Abbott will receive 105 million shares of the combined company worth approximately $5.3 billion based on Mylan's closing price of $50.20 on Friday, July 11, 2014, representing an approximately 21% ownership stake.
 

Bentonville, Ark. – Comedian Tracy Morgan has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores claiming the company was negligent in a June 2014 automobile accident involving one of its truck drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike. On June 7, Wal-Mart truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, allegedly swerved to miss an auto on the New Jersey Turnpike and instead struck a limousine bus carrying Morgan and several associates.

iBeacon technology, the Apple iOS 7 feature that helps mobile devices track their position relative to stationary beacons by using low-frequency Bluetooth transmissions, is getting quite a bit of attention from retailers. Grabbing their interest is not only that devices can obtain individualized information from beacons, but that beacons can also obtain individualized information from mobile devices.

New Orleans Saints quarterback and Texas native Drew Brees will become mayor for the day of Comfort, Texas, on July 23 when the small town is temporarily renamed Advanced Comfort as part of a promotion for a new line of Wrangler jeans.

In celebration of the launch, Wrangler will kick off a community-based initiative striving to improve towns across America that begins on Wednesday, July 23, when the town of Comfort is renamed Advanced Comfort for six months.