Highlights from Walmart's Vendor Open Call:    'Taco Plate' Founder on Walmart's Open Call:  “One unexpected moment for me was when Bill Simon (CEO of Walmart U.S.) opened the door on our meeting to congratulate me on the order. I was not expecting that.” by Kim Souza at The City Wire. Read more   " ‘Bias toward yes’ proves lucrative for some new Wal-Mart suppliers" by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  "(Bill) Simon, who introduced Gov. Mike Beebe at the morning session, praised Arkansas for being active in trying to recruit suppliers...Gov. Mike Beebe visits with the crowd gathered [...]

  "Walmart Back-on-Top in Fortune Global 500 (CVS #35, Costco #60)"  See the Top 500 list   "First TargetExpress store to Open July 23rd" at Minneapolis/St. Paul Bus. Journal.  "Minnesota Public Radio reports that the mini-store— 20,000 square feet, or about one-sixth a typical Target — will open in the newly built Marshall apartment building. That means the store will be open in plenty of time to greet University of Minnesota students before classes start Sept. 2." Read more   "Happening Today:  Wal-Mart holding its first “Open Call” for suppliers" by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  "She said there [...]

  "Costco CEO flew to Google’s California campus to meet Google CEO Larry Page before agreeing to participate in the Google Shopping Express program" by Jason Del Ray at re/code.  "Costco CFO Richard Galanti also met with execs at Google on a separate trip...ongoing suspicion that Google could eventually build an Amazon-like marketplace in which the search giant sells products directly to shoppers and cuts out brick and mortar retailers altogether...“Google may be in a position to go to Procter & Gamble and say, ‘Why would you give [marketing] dollars to Target when you can just give them to us...” Anderson said." Read more [...]

  "Top 100 Retailers:  Amazon Crashes the Party" by David P. Schulz at NRF. "The current retailing revolution isn’t about overthrowing the old elite; it’s about the speed with which the old dogs are learning new tricks. One such example: Amazon.com has joined the uppermost ranks of STORES magazine’s Top 100 Retailers." Read more   NRF: Top 100 Retailers: See the List   "Philly firm building 'One of the largest sporting goods retailers in the U.S.' " by Joseph N. DiStefano at Philly Inquirer. "Vestis Retail Group LLC says it has agreed to buy Sport Chalet, a Southern California chain of [...]

  "Target Opening Pop-Up Store in Minneapolis for MLB All-Star Game" by Nick Halter at Minn./St. Paul Bus. Journal.  "A map submitted to the city by the Twins and MLB shows a 4,800-square-foot store on the parking lot at First Avenue and Sixth Street, which is behind Gluek's Restaurant and Bar." Read more   " “Amazon Was a Prison,” Says Former Worker" by Jason Del Rey at Re/code.  "CNBC also said it spoke to more than 100 independent businesses who sell their wares through Amazon’s online market. Two dozen of them, according to CNBC, claimed that Amazon attempted to ink separate deals [...]