News

Happily Eva after for New York & Co.
Customers have responded so well to New York & Company’s collaboration with Eva Mendes that the retailer has extended its deal with the Cuban-American actress.

Launches in 2013, the Eva Mendes Collection features five seasonal assortments and 11 unique deliveries a year, which feature apparel and accessories.
CVS Health’s new digital innovation lab focuses on customer experience
Boston -- Imagine a world where access to any health information or services you needed was available at any time through your digital device. We are not there yet, but CVS Health is doing its best to create that world with its new Digital Innovation Lab located in Boston.

Ace is the place with the coolest hardware stores

Home Depot and Lowe’s have nothing on four Ace Hardware operators who were recipients of the retail cooperative’s annual “Coolest Hardware Stores’” awards.

The award is quite a distinction considering there are roughly 4,800 Ace Hardware stores worldwide. This year’s honorees included Henkle’s Ace Hardware (Webb City, Mo.), Islands Ace Hardware (Savannah, Ga.), Miner’s Ace Hardware (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and Rocking R Ace Hardware (Harrisonburg, Va.).
Rite Aid Q1 profit falls; sees big gain ahead

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid's first-quarter earnings plunged 55%, mainly on costs tied to a $2 billion acquisition. The chain also lowered its full-year profit outlook.

The drugstore chain in February announced that it would buy pharmacy benefits manager EnvisionRx. Rite Aid said it expects the deal, expected to close by the beginning of July, to increase its annual revenue by as much as 18.6%.

The retailer earned $18.8 million in the quarter that ended May 30, down from $41.4 million in the year ago period.
Report: Target cuts nearly 200 positions

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is reporting that Target laid off 140 staffers and eliminated 50 open positions at its headquarters on Wednesday.

According to the newspaper, the eliminated positions were in places “we identified redundancies or opportunities for greater efficiencies,” Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, wrote in an e-mail.

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CVS Health opens tech hub in Boston

CVS Health is aiming to develop cutting-edge digital services and personalized capabilities that will revolutionize health care, and it's all starting with its new lab in Boston.

The CVS Health Digital Innovation Lab, which is now open, will serve as a vital hub for the rapidly growing digital team at CVS Health, which will remain headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I.
Ex-Walmart exec is new co-owner of N.Y. retailer

A former Walmart executive has joined with a real estate executive to expand New York City-based luxury home décor retailer Gracious Home.
Rite Aid gunning for CVS, Walgreens

On the heels of big news from rival drugstore CVS this week, Rite Aid says it is expecting its EnvisionRx acquisition to increase the company's annual revenue by as much as 18.6%.
Kroger does it again

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. on Thursday reported a big increase in its first quarter profit and its 46th consecutive quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel.

“Our results show the power of our Customer 1st Strategy," stated Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO, Kroger. "Our associates are making a difference for our customers by providing excellent service and product quality and selection, and we continue to improve the shopping experience by bringing technology and digital capabilities to our business.
Report: Walmart puts greeters back in front

Walmart is moving its greeters back to the front of the store three years after the retailer moved them to the back.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the retailer is experimenting with moving the greeters back to the front of the store in part to deter theft. Walmart is testing the approach in several hundred of its 4,500 or so U.S. stores, the newspaper says.

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