News

Study: Are retailers ready for IoT?
Retailers know the Internet of Things (IoT) is coming and will bring significant changes. But their preparedness for it is less certain.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Make Your Move to Mobility the Right Way
The same freedom and flexibility that mobile devices bring to our everyday lives can also be leveraged in the retail environment. Most retailers are inherently aware of these benefits; yet many are still not sure of how or what to implement.

But this is no reason to delay or avoid deploying mobile technology. By adhering to a few basic principles, retailers can successfully integrate mobility into their daily operations, and reap significant benefits as a result.

Commit to Training First

Another retailer offers big holiday layaway incentives

GameStop has joined a growing list of retailers offering a new incentive for a vast segment of consumers to start thinking about holiday shopping: a comprehensive layaway program.

The company has joined Kmart, Walmart and other retailers in launching an enhanced layaway program in the past few weeks designed to help shoppers access the hottest gifts of the season.
Confirmation: How to save $Millions in Energy Costs. A Case Study with Saks
J.C. Penney makes big change to pension plan

Citing favorable market conditions and a desire to “de-risk” its pension plan, nearly 14,000 participants in J.C. Penney’s retirement plan opted to receive lump sum payments.
Aldi puts even more pressure on grocery chains

Low-price grocery chain Aldi is making some changes to the ingredients of its food products just days after Target announced it was banning various chemicals from the products it sells.

Aldi announced it has removed certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils and MSG from all of its exclusive brand food products.

The move by Aldi (and Target) comes as traditional and even upscale grocers are struggling to increase sales as shoppers increasingly turn to more discounters.
GameStop jumps on the layaway bandwagon

GameStop has joined a growing list of retailers offering a new incentive for a vast segment of consumers to start thinking about holiday shopping: a comprehensive layaway program.

The company has joined Kmart, Walmart and other retailers in launching an enhanced layaway program in the past few weeks designed to help shoppers access the hottest gifts of the season.
Walmart cuts 450 jobs

The importance of expense control at Walmart became evident on Friday when the retailer confirmed it planned to eliminate 450 positions as part of a broader restructuring effort.
Newegg steps up its game for holidays

Newegg is looking to be the destination this holiday season for gamers with a new promotion designed to appeal to tech enthusiasts.
Staples just says no to Black Thursday

Staples is bucking the Black Thursday trend by making a statement, literally, about closing its stores on Thanksgiving Day in order to allow its customers, employees and their families to enjoy the holiday.

The retailer issued a statement on Thursday saying that despite being open on Thanksgiving Day the past two years, this year it says customers and employees should have the chance to stay home with family and friends. Stores will open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
Meijer finds a prescription for growth with new president

Midwestern discounter Meijer is looking to a former store pharmacist who worked his way up in the company to take over the reins as president.

The company announced that Rick Keyes has been appointed as president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. Keyes, who joined the company 26 years ago as a pharmacist in Columbus, Ohio, takes the reigns of the multi-state Midwestern retailer after this week's announcement that J.K. Symancyk is leaving the company to join a Texas-based retailer.
New devices dash to join Amazon replenishment

Eleven new brands are heeding the call from Amazon.com to join the Amazon Dash Replenishment Service (DRS) program. General Electric, Samsung, August, Gmate, Oster, Obe, Petnet, CleverPet, Sutro, Thync, and Sealed Air are now offering devices enabled with DRS. DRS enables connected devices that measure consumable usage to automatically order physical goods from Amazon when supplies are running low, DRS is the same reordering service that supports the Amazon Dash Button.