Pilot Pen G2 Edge

Issue 08-29-2016

Click-and-mortar sellers hold edge in big-ticket tech

Click-and-mortar sellers hold edge in big-ticket tech

It’s well documented that the consumer tech market has been an online destination for longer than most retail categories. Among the industries NPD Group Inc.’s Consumer Tracking service follows, consumer tech’s online penetration in 2015, at 27% of revenue, was the highest. And with holiday quarter numbers at 30% and two of the largest tech

Walmart to buy Jet

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s better-than-forecast second quarter results included signs that the company is making progress online, with e-commerce sales increasing 11.8%. But Walmart’s $3.3 billion purchase of the online retailer Jet.com Inc. earlier this month shows that the giant retailer intends to take its battle with Amazon.com Inc. to a new level. Walmart said

Business, policy, politics converge at NACDS

BOSTON — Telling pharmacy’s story to the public and to policy makers is a long-standing priority of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, so it’s no surprise that the organization used its 2016 Total Store Expo (TSE) here this month to update its message. The story that pharmacy professionals need to be telling is

Gardner succeeds Pugh as top merchant at Fred’s

MEMPHIS — Fred’s Inc. announced earlier this month that it had promoted Mary Lou Gardner to executive vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer. She replaced Bryan Pugh, who resigned from the company, Fred’s said in a statement. Gardner joined Fred’s in January as senior vice president of strategy and project management. She came

Hy-Vee names two exec VPs

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee Inc. has promoted Jeremy Gosch and Donna Tweeten to posts as executive vice presidents with the company, which operates more than 240 supermarkets in eight Midwestern states. They join six other executives who hold that title at Hy-Vee. Jeremy Gosch, formerly senior vice president and chief merchandising officer, was

Mobile pay app unveiled by CVS

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health recently announced the launch of CVS Pay, a mobile payment app that is designed to expedite the checkout process at the pharmacy counter and the front of the store. The company said the tool integrates payment, prescription pickup and ExtraCare loyalty card functions in one scan at the checkout. CVS

Customers help Stater Bros. mark milestone

Customers help Stater Bros. mark milestone

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. Markets celebrated its 80th anniversary on August 17 by offering customers free balloons and cookies at all 168 of its supermarkets in Southern ­California. “Celebrating 80 years is an unbelievable accomplishment for any company,” said Jack Brown, executive chairman for Stater Bros. “We wouldn’t be here without our valued

Target taking flexible format to NYC

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp.’s commitment to an urban growth strategy featuring flexible-format stores carrying assortments tailored to the local clientele is taking the retailer into Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood with a store set to open in 2018. Target’s website notes that the two-level, 27,000-square-foot store will offer apparel and accessories, home goods, food (with grab-and-go

Digital retail a game changer

Digital retail a game changer

The struggles between brick-and-mortar retailers and their online offspring continue. More precisely, the competition shows no signs of abating — or reaching any conclusion. If anything, it has gathered momentum, with the insertion of Amazon as the target of brick-and-mortar retailers seeking to build a viable online ­business. Perhaps enough has been said and written

Walmart gets serious about e-commerce

Walmart gets serious about e-commerce

Walmart’s decision to acquire Jet.com speaks volumes about how the leadership team at the world’s largest retailer sees the impact of e-commerce on the consumer goods market, the company’s future role within the sector, and the transformation of the corporate culture created by Sam Walton more than half a century ago to ensure that Walmart