News

Shop Your Way launches health resource
Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Shop Your Way, the loyalty program and social shopping community offered to Sears and Kmart customers, is launching a new health and wellness online resource called Shop Your Way Health.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: Application Management Improves Cybersecurity
By Jason Ausburn and Karl Fruecht You’ve acquired a new storefront. While doing your final walk-through, you notice an unlocked door that opens to a side alley. You can’t use the alley for storage. It doesn’t give your customers an additional entrance. It’s just an additional access point. How are you going to secure it?

BDO USA: Retailers bullish on holiday, cautious on inventory; jobs top concern

Chicago -- The marketing chiefs of U.S. retailers are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, forecasting a solid 4.1% increase in overall holiday store sales, according to a recent BDO USA survey. The projection is in line with the National Retail Federation’s 4.1% expected holiday sales increase, and is a full percentage point higher than actual retail sales gains in the 2013 season.
Study: Shrink costs U.S. retailers $42 billion; employee theft tops shoplifting

Thorofare, N.J. -- Shrink—including shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud and administrative errors—cost the global retail industry more than $128 billion last year, with $42 billion lost in the United States alone, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer study. This represents 1.29% of retail sales, on average.
Whole Foods healthier than thought

The nation’s leading natural and organic grocer proved its doubters wrong with a better than expected fourth quarter earnings report, a rosy outlook for the coming year and dedication to a long-term growth strategy.
Delhaize bails on Bottom Dollar

ALDI is accelerating its growth and dramatically increasing its presence in the Northeast with the acquisition of 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores from Delhaize Group.

Delhaize said it reached an agreement to sell its 66 Bottom Dollar stores in the greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets for $15 million and associated lease liabilities. Delhaize said it would take an asset impairment charge of $180 million in conjunction with the sale.
Staples setting holiday Style standard

Office products are getting a stylish makeover at Staples with two designer-driven collections arriving mid-November. “Style at Staples” is the name of a new assortment that features the new designs by Cynthia Rowley and British stationary brand Paperhouse.
IBM predicts record mobile holiday sales

IBM is forecasting a record holiday season heavily influenced by digital sales. IBM research based on digital analytics predicts a total online sales increase of more than 15% over a 5-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

The biggest increase in online sales is expected on Cyber Monday with a predicted 15.8% increase over the last year, followed closely by Thanksgiving with an increase of 15.6%
Columbia gone fishing

Columbia Sportswear launched it’s first-ever flagship Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) concept store at the Avalon Mall in Alpharetta, Ga.

Inspired by the performance, style and comfort needs of professional and recreational anglers, Columbia’s PFG collection is being embraced as a lifestyle brand by consumers of all ages in temperate and tropical climates across the Western Hemisphere, according to the company.
Black November starts soon at Sam’s

Sam’s Club has joined the ranks of other retailers this holiday season with a pre-Black Friday-themed promotion occurring mid-month.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Sam’s Club will host a one-day-only Holiday Savings Celebration featuring Black Friday pricing on featured technology, toys, apparel, jewelry and home goods items. Starting at 7 a.m. and exclusive to Sam’s Club members, families can fill their baskets in-club or online with top holiday picks while getting ahead of the typical Black Friday frenzy, according to Sam’s Club.
ADM promotes its president to CEO

Archer Daniels Midland Company has appointed Juan R. Luciano the next CEO and also has elected him to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. Luciano previously served as company’s president and COO responsible for leading and running the company’s global operations.

Luciano succeeds Patricia Woertz, who will continue in the role of ADM’s chairman of the board and is expected to retire in May 2016.
Texas gets its 80th Sam’s Club

The Houston suburb of Richmond is home to Sam’s Club’s 80th location in Texas following the opening of a new unit there on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Sam’s Club now operates 20 clubs in the sprawling Houston market and the 80 clubs the retailer operates in Texas account for more than 12% of the 643 Sam’s Clubs in operation nationwide as of September 30.