News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Walmart is taking its commitment to renewable energy to new levels in California. The chain announced plans to install solar panels on up to 60 additional stores in the Golden State. The initiative, done in partnership with SolarCity, expands the company’s solar portfolio to more than 75% of its locations in California.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it welcomed legislation that would require the State Department to speed up the visa application process for citizens from three key countries, saying the move would make it easier for tourists and business travelers to spend money in U.S. stores.

By Josh Green, CEO, Panjiva

This fall, Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group will bring high-energy runway shows and events to shoppers across the nation with “Simon Fashion Now,” a series of free events held at select Simon shopping centers.

Earlier in September, Simon Fashion Now kicked off in Houston – at The Galleria – and the tour will continue at Simon properties in Boca Raton, Fla. (Town Center at Boca Raton); Burlington, Mass. (Burlington Mall); Garden City, N.Y. (Roosevelt Field); and Charlotte, N.C. (SouthPark).

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples announced that it has teamed up with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Avery Dennison to create a new line of home office products.

The Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery product line will debut in early 2012 with more than 300 SKUs across multiple product categories, which will be sold exclusively at Staples.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. reported Thursday that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended Aug. 27 to $94.7 million, from $199.3 million in the year earlier period.

Revenue rose 1.8% in the quarter to $6.3 billion, and same-store sales – as previously reported – increased 2.2%.

The drugstore retailer has modified its outlook, now expecting smaller losses for fiscal 2012 than originally anticipated.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that it plans to hire more than 40,000 employees to staff its U.S. stores and distribution centers this holiday season, as the company anticipates another busy Christmas across all of its shopping channels. This number is in line with previous years, when the company hired between 35,000 and 45,000 seasonal workers. Throughout the coming months, the company said it will continue to assess its staffing needs and add more employees, as necessary.

New York City -- Facebook will announce that it is adding a “Want” button to its wall during its developers conference later this week, according to techcrunch.com.

The launch of the new social commerce button will be accompanied by the addition of several other buttons, including “Read,” “Listened” or “Watched”  various pieces of content.