News

WASHINGTON — Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have announced a $3 million initiative designed to help D.C. residents get the skills and training they need to gain employment. The program will offer literacy, customer service and retail training to 2,000 District residents.

Walmart’s policy of prohibiting employees from accepting the smallest of gratuities has been in place for a long time and for good reason. Veterans of the company will tell you that early on it was a key driver of success because there was a time when the retail industry was rife with merchants who tended to make buying decisions that were in their best interest as opposed to those of customers.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Family Dollar opened its 7,000th store Thursday, further cementing the dollar-store channel as an area of rapid growth.

The store is located in Memphis, Tenn., and features a green building design and a spacious layout for an optimal shopping experience, the company reported. 

To commemorate the opening of its 7,000th store in Memphis, Family Dollar completed the celebration with the $7,000 donation to the Mid-South Food Bank, along with cans of food donated by members of the local community. 

ROANOKE, Va. — Advance Auto Parts saw its second-quarter earnings per share jump 26% to $1.46 from $1.16 for the same period last year, as the company looks to further invest in commercial, e-commerce and DIY businesses.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that S&S Worldwide grew recommendation sales 75% in just three months with IBM Smarter Commerce software in the cloud.  S&S is a national distributor of sporting goods products for recreation, health care, and education professionals and is using IBM software to drive personalized product recommendation sales via its Web sites.

Outdoor retailer Cabela’s has announced plans to open one of its signature stores in Rogers, Ark., next summer, continuing an influx of retail development that has steadily elevated the region’s shopping options.

A decade ago, the biggest decision facing shoppers who lived in Benton County was which Walmart to shop at. Either that or drive to Fayetteville where an aging mall featured Dillard’s and JCPenney as anchor tenants. Other folks made the two-hour trek to Tulsa, Okla., which boasted more choices, but hardly qualified as a shopping Mecca.

The retirement of veteran merchant John Westling was announced internally at Walmart last Friday, and in typical fashion his departure has created new opportunities for other executives as responsibilities are reallocated.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that Dev, The Ready Set, Soulja Boy, Cris Cab and Motion City Soundtrack will be among the artists performing at its mstylelab free concerts at 15 Macy's stores nationwide. 

Concert attendees will have the chance to connect with musicians while exploring the newly revamped mstylelab lounge. On display will be back-to-school styles and accessories from Macy's exclusive brands American Rag and Material Girl.