News

If consumers can be trusted to accurately describe their spending intentions well in advance of when they actually incur expenses then this year’s back-to-school season will be weaker than last year’s. The National Retail Federation’s annual BTS survey got a lot of attention when it was released last week because consumer data compiled by the trade group forecast a decline in spending.

London -- Britain’s largest retailer Tesco said Sunday it plans to pilot free WiFi Internet service in its stores, allowing customers to compare prices and read product reviews as they shop.

According to a Sunday report by the Financial Times, the supermarket retailer is currently testing the service in four stores, with plans to quickly roll it out after evaluating the pilot.

Tesco is thought to be the first big U.K. retailer to test free WiFi.
 

NEW YORK — The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association has announced that Adam Berg has joined as SVP membership and new business development.

Berg comes to LIMA following a lengthy career with Equity Management, a leading trademark licensing firm, where he most recently served as SVP licensing sales. Previously he worked in licensing sales for Hamilton Projects and held various new project development positions in the entertainment industry. 

St. Louis -- Interface announced Monday that Dollar General Corp. has signed a multi-year contract for secured managed cloud services provided by Interface.

Interface’s secure managed cloud services for Dollar General includes wide-area network management, PCI compliance, wireless access Management, IP alarm system monitoring, IP video surveillance, and interface digital voice.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — PNI Digital Media on Monday announced an agreement with Walgreens to provide and operate an online stationery service for the Chicago-based pharmacy.

The service will allow Walgreens customers to create and customize unique cards, invitations and other printed material, including personalized photo books and photo calendars, wedding invitations and business cards.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Discount grocery chain Bottom Dollar Food announced plans to enter the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets.

The expansion includes 14 stores that will open in 2012 and is said to create more than 600 jobs.

CHICAGO — About a week after announcing it would join First Lady Obama and other retailers in bringing more choices to so-called "food deserts", Walmart announced its official presence in Chicago today with the news that it has begun work on a new supercenter in Chatham. According to the company, the store will give more options to residents of Chicago's South Side neighborhood while at the same time creating approximately 400 jobs.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney announced that it is launching a new philanthropic initiative that invites customers in over 1,100 stores to turn small change into “pennies from heaven” by rounding up their purchases and donating the difference to afterschool programs. Serving as the company’s signature cause-related event, pennies from heaven will be held four times a year starting July 31 through Aug. 27 during the Back-to-School season.