News

Survey: Ace is nation’s most favorite home improvement chain
Louisville, Colo. -- Ace Hardware is America’s favorite home improvement store and Costco is the favorite for home furnishings, according to a new nationwide survey by Market Force Information. The findings are based on consumers’ satisfaction levels and their likelihood to recommend the retailer to others.

In the home improvement sector, Ace Hardware earned the top spot with a composite loyalty score of 61% (out of a potential 70%). Menards came in second, at 50%, followed by Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart.
Chili’s selects NoWait to ease waiting in line
Dallas – Waiting in line is probably the least appetizing part of the dining out experience. That is why Chili’s Grill &Bar has selected the NoWait mobile network to power its new mobile waitlisting app.

Rolling out nationwide in summer 2015, NoWait enables guests to search local Chili's restaurants, understand the wait time to be seated and add their names remotely to a restaurant's real-time seating list. Customers will also be able to track their place in line and show up when their table is scheduled to be ready.

A 'good thing' for Staples and Martha Stewart

Staples is looking to Martha Stewart once again to re-invigorate its home office product assortment.

The retailer and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia have announced a new, multi-year strategic direct retail collaboration for the manufacture and distribution of a brand new line of Martha Stewart Home Office products.
Where were you on Day 1 for wearables?

Those who failed to grasp the significance of the iPhone when it launched in 2007 are not going to make the same mistake twice with the introduction of the Apple Watch –- a wearable technology device that hit the market April 24 with some well-deserved hype and considerable transformative potential.
Target responds to Lilly Pulitzer frenzy and angry customers

New York -- Target Corp. is responding to customers frustrated by their inability to buy items from the chain’s Lilly Pulitzer collection. The limited-edition line went live in the stores and online Sunday morning, with most of the items selling out within minutes.
Ace Hardware expands OPI paint collection

Ace Hardware is looking to lure more female shoppers into the largely male domain of the hardware store with its latest partnership with OPI.

Following the retailer/s launch last year of an inaugural paint palette from OPI, the hardware cooperative is adding even more colors, including colors from the new Hawaii Collection by OPI.
Ugg goes surfer chic with new Hawaiian line

When consumers think of Uggs, they may not imagine Hawaiian floral patterns. But now the retailer is trying to take advantage of the hot fashion trend of prints and patterns with a new line of Polynesian-inspired footwear and accessories.
GameStop pulls out the stops for Ronald McDonald House

Video game retailer GameStop is lending its support to Ronald McDonald Houses by donating 180 free PlayStations.

The retailer, in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment America, says it plans to donate a PlayStation 4 gaming bundle to all Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States.
Roche Bros. deploying NCR solution to strengthen payment security

Duluth, Ga. -- NCR Corp. announced supermarket chain Roche Bros. has implemented NCR’s Connected Payments to help with its payments security. Massachusetts-based Roche Bros. is using the cloud-based payment solution to manage all of its daily operations related to payments across its network of stores.
Tech Bytes: Three Steps to Omnichannel Retailer from eBay Seller

Hard to believe, eBay has now been in existence as an e-commerce platform for 20 years. Since its launch in September 1995, countless individuals and companies have sold and purchased goods via eBay. In addition, many full-fledged omnichannel retailers have evolved from small-scale efforts to sell merchandise on eBay.