News

Fort Worth, Texas – Analyst firm Wedbush Securities is reportedly advising clients that a bankruptcy is “imminent” at RadioShack. According to Barron’s, Wedbush has lowered its target price for RadioShack to $0, citing concerns including inability to secure lender approval for 1,100 proposed store closings and general weakness in the consumer electronics sector.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced its participation with Apple Pay, the new mobile payments platform from Apple.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Company Inc. is raising capital by selling $350 million worth of senior notes due in 2019. The proceeds will mostly be used by pay off fees and expenses related to previous senior notes offering coming due in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Merrimack, N.H. – Brookstone has named Blue Wolf Communications as an agency for public relations, social media and event marketing.

The relationship launches with major initiatives for the 2014 holiday season, the announcement of high-profile spokespeople, the introduction of many new products, and high-impact events for fall and winter.

Warren, Mich. – Art Van Furniture is launching an omnichannel promotion in Detroit on Sept. 12 to celebrate the release of its 2014 fall catalog. Customers can take selfies or have a photo taken by celebrity photographer Nigel Barker on one of 55 sofas that will be placed outside the Art Van Furniture store on Woodward Avenue.

New York – Proximity marketing solutions provider Thinaire is introducing its new ActiveShopper digital-coupon-solution that lets brands and retailers deliver incentives to shoppers in the store. Thinaire has integrated loyalty rewards and coupon delivery into its cloud-based mobile engagement platform.

New York -- Mobile payments are likely to take a giant step forward with Apple’s unveiling of Apple Pay, a new mobile payment platform built into the company’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The platform will also work with the new Apple Watch, extending the service to over 200 million owners of iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s worldwide.

By Lea Elaine Green, Senior Content Strategist, Mozu

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. and Family Dollar Stores Inc. announced, as expected, they have received a second request for information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in connection with Dollar Tree's pending $8.5 billion deal to acquire Family Dollar.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us on Tuesday announced several executive appointments. The retailer named Debbie Lentz as senior VP, chief supply chain officer, with responsibility for U.S. distribution and customs compliance, global importing and exporting, fleet operations and domestic transportation, reporting to Hank Mullany, president, Toys “R” Us, U.S.