News

Tech Guest Viewpoint: Physical Stores – A Retailer’s Edge
Just a few short years ago, many people predicted that physical stores would all be replaced by pure-play e-commerce sites. By now, they thought, brick-and-mortar would be a thing of the past. Though we’ve seen some physical stores close, we’ve also seen some traditionally online retailers open storefronts. The demise of the physical store was greatly overestimated.
Walmart Canada ramps up Visa feud
Walmart Canada has begun following through with a June announcement it would gradually stop accepting Visa payments. On June 11, the retailer issued a release stating it would stop accepting Visa payments across Canada, starting July 18 at stores in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Multiple media reports indicate that as of July 18, Walmart Canada is no longer taking payments via Visa-branded cards at three stores in Thunder Bay.

Walmart exec joins JLL e-commerce team

Matt Powers, who formerly held a high-level real estate executive role at Walmart, is shifting professional gears. Powers has joined real estate services firm JLL Inc. as an executive VP who will serve on the company’s Retail e-commerce Distribution (ReD) platform. He will help advise retailers on their distribution real estate strategies and implement solutions that help clients achieve their supply chain, e-commerce and omni-channel operational goals.
Burlington Stores sees Q2 heating up

Burlington Stores Inc. is upping its guidance for several key fiscal metrics in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The retailer now expects second quarter adjusted net income per share to total $0.28 to $.30, up from a previously announced range of $0.20-$0.23 per share and compared to $0.19 in the same period the previous year. Burlington Stores also currently anticipates adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in the range of $88 to $90 million, compared to the prior year figure of $75.4 million.
Ace flushes out manual workforce management

Ace Hardware Corp. is helping independent members of its retail cooperative manage increasingly complex labor regulations. The hardware chain is leveraging the cloud-based Kronos Workforce Central suite of workforce management solutions. In addition to better management of rising labor law compliance requirements, Ace expects the deployment to also enable improvement of store productivity and increase of associate engagement.
Target launches kid-centered back-to-school strategy

Target is taking an innovative approach to back-to-school season this year by involving kids every step of the way, from marketing to product development. The company announced Monday that it will build on the success of its kid-inspired Cat & Jack and Pillowfort lines by relying on kids to direct how it will fund school programs in their communities and concept, direct and produce its national marketing campaign
Amazon Prime Day: What Can Retailers Learn?

Another July, another Amazon Prime Day. With the e-tail leader already confirming this retail “holiday” will be back for a third time next July, let’s take a look back at the 2016 edition. While a lot went well for Amazon during Prime Day this year, we may as well start with the biggest blunder. Namely, the widespread checkout issues that occurred during the morning hours. A glitch caused some U.S. and U.K. shoppers to have difficulties loading items into their shopping carts and/or making purchases.
Supervalu’s Van Buskirk to depart

A Supervalu executive will be departing the company, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company’s executive VP merchandising, marketing, retail and pharmacy Mark Van Buskirk’s employment will end effective July 16, the filing says. In the interim, the company is evaluating a succession plan and Van Buskirk’s functional areas will report to Supervalu executive VP, COO and CFO Bruce Besanko.
New Sam’s Club store provides seamless shopping

A Sam’s Club location opening in Columbia, South Carolina, will be among the first to offer a new mobile payment option.
June retail sales get warmer

U.S. retailers ended spring with a small but notable improvement in financial performance. According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for June were $457 billion. This represents an increase of 0.6% from the previous month, and 2.7% higher than June 2015.
Amazon keeps California covered with new facility

Amazon.com Inc. cannot be accused of ignoring the fulfillment needs of customers in California. The e-tail giant plans to open its 10th California fulfillment center in Sacramento. The new 855,000-plus-sq.-ft. facility, the fourth California fulfillment center Amazon has announced within a span of four months, will create more than 1,000 full-time hourly roles.
Quiznos tops organization with new CEO

Quick-service restaurant chain Quiznos has promoted global chief marketing officer Susan Lintonsmith as its new CEO. Joining Quiznos as chief marketing officer in 2012, Lintonsmith was instrumental in opening the China market and leading the opening of the Quiznos Grill premium sandwich concept. Previous roles in her more than 25-year career include serving as a consultant to Einstein Noah Restaurant Group and as chief marketing officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.