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The proposed border adjustment tax would have a negative financial impact on retailers and consumers, as well.    Retailers would “have no choice” but to pass the higher costs on to consumers if Congress passes a proposed $1 trillion border adjustment tax as part of tax reform, the National Retail Federation warned on Tuesday.  

Sears Holdings Corp. has bought itself a little more time with regard to the maturity of some debt. It also has offloaded some of pension liability.      The retailer announced on Tuesday it has reached an agreement to repay $100 million of its secured $500 million loan facility at its original maturity in July, and extend the remaining amount until January 2018. The agreement includes an option to extend the maturity for an additional six months, to July 2018.  

Walmart  is stepping up its commitment to its workers who serve in the military by covering the difference when an employee's military salary is less than what the person makes working at the store.  

Footwear retailer DSW Inc. fell short on earnings in its first quarter, even as it topped sales estimates.   Net income fell to $23 million, or 28 cents per share, below analyst expectations, from $30.0 million, or 36 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The company incurred pre-tax charges of $4.1 million, related to its acquisition of Ebuys, restructuring costs and foreign exchange loss assumed in the process of pre-funding the upcoming Town Shoes acquisition.   

A former Lowe's executive whose resume includes a 16-year stint at Stapes has joined the executive leadership team at J.C. Penney.   Penney said Marci Grebstein will join the company as executive VP, chief marketing officer, in June. Grebstein succeeds Mary Beth West who stepped down as Penney's marketing head on April 1, 2017, after two years on the job, and went on to join The Hershey Company.   

Walmart is expanding—and updating—its footprint in the Sunshine State.   The retailer will open nine new stores across Florida in its current fiscal year, creating more than 800 jobs, and also execute a multi-million-dollar capital investment plan by remodeling more than 40 locations across the state. Walmart currently operates 375 stores in Florida.    

Despite increasing loyalty program membership enrollments, retailers continue to miss opportunities to satisfy shoppers.   Brands continue to invest more in loyalty programs, and enrollment has grown by 31% over the last four years. However, retailers are overlooking opportunities that will drive business results, according to “The Loyalty Report 2017.”  

Despite social media’s growing presence in many consumers’ lives, it is not the ideal platform for brand interaction.   That's according to the “2017 Generational Marketing Insights Survey,” from Campaigner, the email marketing brand of j2 Global. According to findings, less than a quarter (24%) of online shoppers use social media as one of their preferred channels for brand interaction. And it seems that not all social media channels are created equal.  

Target Corp. has resolved its 2013 data breach with a deal that represents the largest multi-state data breach settlement in history.   The retailer agreed to pay a total of $18.5 million to settle the case. The money will go to 47 states and the District of Columbia, with California receiving the largest share of  the settlement, more than $1.4 million.    

Albertsons Companies has added two key hires to help it expand its digital capabilities.