News

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is getting some social media heat about the message on a controversial T-shirt it is selling, and says no offense was ever intended. According to the Associated Press, in a written statement Target said the black women’s shirt with the word “Trophy” written across the front in bold lettering is not meant to demean women.

Dallas – Neiman Marcus shoppers who want to get a gift card can now give a little something to receive one. Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. is partnering with luxury consignment provider The RealReal in a new program that offers consignors payment in Neiman Marcus gift cards with an extra 10% added to the value of their payout.

It’s the question on every brand’s mind — how do I reach the millennial consumer?

Is it all about social? Should I focus on mobile? Should I allocate more of my advertising budget toward this trendy website?

Seattle – Amazon.com is taking the title of the classic Bob Dylan album “Bringing It All Back Home” to heart. The retailer is expanding its Amazon Home Services professional services marketplace to 15 metropolitan areas, including Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Houston; Miami; Philadelphia; Phoenix; San Diego; San Jose and Washington, D.C.

Hangzhou, China – If idle hands are the tool of the devil, then Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba Holding Group Inc. has very righteous hands. Alibaba is staying busy with a new plan to protect cloud data and new cloud solutions, as well as partnerships to provide e-commerce logistics and online sourcing.

Atlanta - The Home Depot Inc. is spending about $1.6 billion in an acquisition squarely aimed at better meeting the needs of its professional customers.

The retailer is purchasing Jacksonville, Florida-based Interline Brands Inc., a national distributor and direct marketer of broad-line maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products.

Seattle – Starbucks Corp, is partnering with one of the world’s best-known media brands to provide an elevated news experience for users of its mobile app. As part of an expanded agreement with the New York Times, top news of the day as well as a selection of other articles, will be available for free via the Starbucks mobile app for My Starbucks Rewards loyalty members.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) is now a little less rosy in its sales expectations for 2015. The NRF has lowered its full-year retail sales forecast because of unexpected slow growth recorded during the first half of the year, similar to the industry’s experience in 2014.

However, NRF still expects sales will steadily increase through the remainder of the year. NRF forecasted in February that retail sales would grow 4.1% in 2015 from 2014, but today’s revision lowers the forecast to 3.5%.

Cincinnati - The Kroger Co. is extending a partnership that provides a number of financial services to shoppers at its stores. By continuing a 30-plus-year agreement with global payment services provider Western Union, Kroger gives customers the ability to send and receive Western Union money transfer transactions, purchase money orders and pay their bills at more than 2,300 Kroger store locations.

What’s wrong with America? Plenty, according to the National Retail Federation which just slashed its full year retail sales forecast ahead of second quarter earnings announcements from major retailers next month.