News

Salt Lake City - Overstock.com Inc. is launching a partnership with Give Back Box, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitate charitable donations. Through the partnership, Overstock.com gives customers the ability to re-use the box in which their order arrived, along with Give Back Box's free shipping label, to ship used household items directly to non-profit organizations across the U.S.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – On dates ranging from October 19, 2013 and April 10, 2014, hackers compromised the security of credit card processing systems at 33 locations of the P.F. Chang’s restaurant chain in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada and North Carolina, and may have stolen consumer credit card data. The U.S. Secret Service notified P.F. Chang’s of the breach on June 10, 2014 and P.F. Chang’s says it has been processing credit card numbers securely since June 11.

Once again a move by our innovative friends at Amazon.com has prompted me to write a Tech Bytes column. Amazon’s latest interesting venture is the launch of an online marketplace for items created by 3D printer. Currently, the online 3D printed products store includes more than 200 items in categories such as jewelry, toys, home décor and fashion accessories. The new store will feature design templates for product individualization and 3D preview capability.

Office Depot softened the blow of weak second quarter sales by bumping up the pace of 400 store closings to drive greater than expected operating profit growth and expense savings related to the merger with OfficeMax.

J. C. Penney is expanding its New York footprint with the opening of its first-ever store in Brooklyn. The store will have design elements and innovative features not found in any of its other stores, according to the retailer.

Fitness guru Jillian Michaels and Kmart this month plan to launch a new line of performance activewear branded as Impact by Jillian Michaels as part of Kmart's strategy to expand and strengthen health and wellness offerings.

The product line will be available online beginning August 10 for Kmart’s Shopyourway.com members and in stores on August 17 with prices ranging from $10.99 to $36.99. The line of apparel and accessories encompasses categories such as core training, running, yoga and lifestyle.

Newegg has turned to Visa to streamline the checkout process for its customers. The leading electronics-focused e-retailer will leverage the Visa Checkout payment service to simplify the process of buying online.

Visa Checkout can be used when shopping Newegg from a desktop computer and mobile devices. To mark the addition of the new service, Newegg is running a promotion until August 25 giving customers 10% (up to $20) off purchases made using Visa Checkout.

GNC has appointed senior retail industry executive Michael G. Archbold as CEO and member of the board, effective immediately. Archbold replaces chairman, president and CEO Joseph Fortunato, who is leaving the company and has stepped down from the board.

Lead independent director Michael Hines has been elected non-executive chairman.

Scotts Miracle-Gro reported declines in sales and income for the third quarter of 2014, but pointed to momentum that may place the company at the top end of its guidance for the year.

Online retailer Overstock.com is launching a partnership with nonprofit Give Back Box to make donating used clothes easier for its customers.
 
Soon, customers who order products from Overstock.com will be able to use an enclosed Give Back Box shipping label to send their used clothes to nonprofits nationwide.