News

New York — Where would the retail industry would be without entrepreneurs? The growth of retail is dependent on individuals who identify opportunities and take risks. Now, an organization that fosters that mentality among a future generation of difference-makers needs your vote!

Enactus USA, formerly called Students In Free Enterprise or SIFE, is looking to earn a $500,000 grant from Microsoft in the tech company’s #UpgradeYourWorld campaign which runs through August 23.

The CEO of Overstock.com says the company is poised to take advantage of growth opportunities from "crypto-initiatives" and other means as the retailer posted an increase in revenue in the second quarter.

CEO Patrick Byrne said the company's launch of what it calls a "digital corporate bond", or a cryptocurrency-based security, based on bitcoin will fuel expansion and growth for the company.

San Antonio – Convenience and fuel store operator CST Brands Inc. was not able to rev up profits and sales to Wall Street expectations in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Increased total operating expenses helped drive net income down 22% to $25 million from $32 million a year earlier.

Operating revenues also fell 22%, to $2.55 million from $3.26 million. Lower per gallon selling prices for both the U.S. and Canadian retail segments, as well as a weaker Canadian dollar, negatively impacted revenues. 

Petco is making several changes to its leadership team as the retailer focuses on key omnichannel initiatives.

The pet specialty retailer announced that CEO Jim Myers will also be taking on the role of chairman, Brad Weston has been named president, Steve Lossing has been named senior vice president of operations, and Rebecca Frechette has been named senior vice president in charge of merchandising.

Seattle – Shoppers at select Nordstrom Inc. stores are seeing a new pop-up shop. Specialty eyewear retailer Warby Parker is operating pop-up shops at six Nordstrom locations around the country until Sept. 6, and also offering an e-commerce page on the Nordstrom site.

As part of the Pop-In@Nordstrom series of themed pop-up shops, Warby-Parker will offer Nordstrom customers a curated selection of frames, as well as four exclusive pairs of sunglasses and an assortment of literary-themed specialty items such as colored pencils and watercolor markers.

New York — Ron Johnson’s newest venture has secured a big round of additional funding.

Enjoy Technology, the online e-commerce start-up founded by the former J.C. Penney chief and Apple store executive, announced it has secured $50 million in a round of Series B funding led by Highland Capital.

As kids prepare to head back to school this fall, the Walmart foundation is furthering its commitment to increase access to food and nutrition education for children with a whopping donation.

The retailer is making a $10.5 million donation to four national nonprofits implementing school meals programs.

Washington, D.C. — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.6% in August 2015 from the same month in 2014 as retailers begin to bring in merchandise for the holiday season. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, imports for the year are expected to be up 4.2% from 2014.