News

CVS opens first MinuteClinics in Target stores
The first MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside Target stores in the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham areas are now open, CVS Health announced Tuesday.
Instacart plays the field
Online delivery service Instacart may be deepening its relationship with organic grocer Whole Foods, but is still keeping its options open.

Instacart is now delivering goods from Landover, Maryland-based supermarket chain Giant Food to Washington, D.C., residents. Responding to customer requests, Giant is now offering home delivery via Instacart in as little as an hour to customers throughout Washington, D.C.

Neiman Marcus comps decline for 2nd straight quarter

Neiman Marcus posted declines in revenue and same-store sales on the same day that the company losta 25-year veteran who had been responsible for in-store visual design.
DSW is edging closer to 500-store mark

DSW Inc. says strong sales in the fourth quarter show that its growth strategy is working, and the retailer says it plans to open at least 34 new stores this year.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, the company reported a profit of $11.8 million, or 14 cents a share, down from $30.8 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 5% to $672 million. Same-store sales increased 0.7%.
Groupon makes a cross-platform deal

Online deal provider Groupon is offering it merchants new digital tools designed to ease the creation and management of marketing campaigns across Web, mobile and tablet devices.

The updates are being provided under the Groupon Merchant brand, a new tablet app that allows users to track and manage their Groupon campaign and more self-service deal options. The goal is to deliver the ability to customize the structure and appearance of Groupon promotions.

Specific new digital Groupon offerings include:
Amazon confirms second location for Amazon Books

The giant of online retailing apparently is developing a taste for brick-and-mortar.

In news that is likely to set off a wave of speculation, Amazon confirmed it will open its second physical bookstore, this time at Westfield UTC mall in San Diego, California. Amazon Books is expected to open at the open-air shopping center sometime this summer.
Profit rises 14% at Children's Place in Q4

The Children's Place posted strong same-store sales for the fourth quarter as the children’s clothes retailer also released an upbeat forecast for the year.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, net sales increased 4% to $498.5 million. Same store sales increased 6.7%. Net income was $17.5 million, or 87 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $17 million, or 79 cents per diluted share, the previous year.
What CPG companies need to win online

As the notion of channel conflict subsides, consumer packaged goods companies who don’t elevate their digital game are playing to lose and a new study from a two industry leaders shows just how much.
Ikea plans more expansion in California

Ikea had submitted plans to build its ninth store in the state of California, in the Bay Area suburb of Dublin.

Pending approvals, Ikea could begin construction of the store in spring 2017, with an opening in summer 2018. The retailer plans to evaluate potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.
Best Buy adds Silicon Valley heft to board

The board of directors at Best Buy Co. is losing a longtime board member and gaining a new voice with experience in forming relationships with top venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.

The retailer announced that former CEO Brad Anderson will retire from the board of directors and that the company has appointed corporate venture capital leader Claudia Fan Munce to the board.Anderson will serve the remainder of his term through the end of the annual shareholder meeting on June 14. Munce will stand for election at that time.