WM Cart Hero | Patent ‘Property Tax’ | Norway Future

/in

 

Fortune announces 2025 Fortune Global 500 List – Walmart is No. 1 for the 12th consecutive year – Amazon No. 2 Press release | Fortune List (subs.)

 

The Trump Organization sued Amazon, eBay and Walmart sellers, accusing them of peddling knockoff merchandise promoting President Trump at CNBC

 

Welcome to the Grocery Store Where Prices Change 100 Times a Day at WSJ. “It is only a matter of time before Americans also see dynamic pricing on groceries, industry experts say. “All one has to do is visit the Netherlands or Norway,” says Ioannis Stamatopoulos, an associate professor who studies retail technology at the University of Texas at Austin’s business school. “That’s a window to the future.” WSJ subs.

 

He heard ‘he’s got a knife,’ then ran to stop a man suspected of stabbing 11 at a Michigan Walmart at AP. “He pulled the knife out of her and went to take off, then stopped and hesitated and turned around like he was going to go after her again…I just went as hard as I could and just got him on his ankles with the grocery cart from behind.” Kolakowski, a 39-year-old disabled veteran, was quickly joined by another man with a shopping cart, stopping the man later identified by authorities as Gille. A third man pointed a gun toward the man, repeatedly demanding he drop the knife.” Read more

 

…Walmart stabbing suspect faced past charges of desecrating graves in 2016 at WPBN/WGTU. “He is acutely psychotic. He stated he was the antichrist and digging a grave prior to admission. He stated he wanted to take the body out and see if there was blood on it…Psychiatrist Yatinder Singhal, M.D. said in the documents.” Read more

 

Amazon and Instacart’s former advertising leader is transforming the way Walmart grows at Modern Retail. “Seth Dallaire admits that, before joining Walmart almost four years ago, he hadn’t considered working for the big-box retailer…“I had usually called him the godfather of retail media, because he does have that lineage right back to the beginning of the entire wave,” said retail media industry analyst Andrew Lipsman of Media, Ads + Commerce.” Read more

 

**A message from Su Salsa – Delicious cilantro lime flavor with a hint of jalapeno. Smooth texture and unique flavor is perfect to pour on chips, eggs, burritos, and more. See the bright lime green and fuchsia label that grabs attention on shelf. Product details | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Trump Administration Weighs Patent System Overhaul to Raise Revenue at WSJ. “Commerce Department officials are discussing charging patent holders 1% to 5% of their overall patent value, a shift that could dramatically increase fees, according to people familiar with the matter…The new fee would be a much more exorbitant cost for some patent holders that would function like a property tax.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon sets the record straight: The Wall Street Journal’s flawed pricing analysis “The WSJ’s article about Amazon’s pricing practices isn’t just flawed—it seems fundamentally misleading by design. Amazon offers over 6 million everyday essential items, yet the WSJ focused their story on just under 2,500 low-priced everyday essentials products—less than 0.04% of our everyday essentials selection. This isn’t responsible sampling; it’s surgical cherry-picking.” Read more

 

Apple will close a store in northeastern China in August, the first time it has shuttered one of its retail locations since it opened its first outlet in the country in 2008 NY Times subs.

 

Temu users face a ‘high risk’ of finding illegal products, EU says at The Verge

 

NYC Gunman Targeted the NFL But Ended Up on Rudin’s Floor at Bloomberg. “A manifesto and notes found on him indicated a fixation with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, caused by head trauma, the officers said. His social media feed showed his football career ended after a head injury, and he wrote that the NFL didn’t do enough for CTE.” Bloomberg subs.

 

Tariffs on South Korea’s products threaten the ‘K-beauty’ boom in the US at AP

 

Vancouver’s inaugural “Costco Marathon” was as unhinged as it sounds at Straight. “What do you get when you mix marathon mileage, food court favourites, and a whole lot of chaotic good energy? If you’re Amir Nikravan, you get the unofficial Costco Marathon, a 42.2-kilometre warehouse-hopping endurance event powered by hot dogs and pure running joy.” Read more

 

Albertsons Wants Details on Ex-Kroger CEO’s Personal Conduct at Bloomberg Law

 

**Advertise your product, service or trade show in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

WM AI Overhaul | T.Supply +1.5% | Sheetz Chainsaw Sliced

/in

 

Why Walmart Is Overhauling Its Approach to AI Agents at WSJ. “It became very clear that we could dramatically simplify,” said Suresh Kumar, Walmart’s chief technology officer and chief development officer. “If I have an agent that helps you with your payroll and I have a different agent that helps you with identifying merchandising trends, you shouldn’t have to remember that and switch between those two.” WSJ subs.

 

…Walmart Taps Instacart Executive to Lead Its AI Ambitions at WSJ. “…hired Daniel Danker, an executive at Instacart, as the head of global AI acceleration, product and design. Danker will report to Walmart Chief Executive Doug McMillon, a sign of how Walmart aims to use AI as a central tool throughout its business. The company said it is also recruiting an AI platforms leader that will report to global chief technology officer Suresh Kumar.” WSJ subs.

 

Tractor Supply Q2 comp sales +1.5% / Comp avg. transaction +1.0% Press release

 

Newsweek: America’s Best Retailers 2025: #1’s: C-store – Buc-ee’s / Supermarket – Publix / Home Improvement – Tractor Supply…Full list

 

Trump met with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos at the White House last week, sources say at CNBC

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks: Delight your consumer with foam-filled, long-lasting and soft bean bag chairs. Genius design + comfort. Made in USA. 5-year unconditional warranty. Ideal for Back-to-School and Holiday sales. Website | Program details: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walmart’s security center keeps tabs on global threats at Talk Business. “The center is in the basement of a building on Walmart’s new corporate campus…Walmart said GSOC is five times larger than the former emergency operations center…A wall-sized electronic map at the front of the center represented the U.S.-based supply chain fleet with all the trucks en route to their destinations. The map is updated every 15 seconds.” Read more

 

PRWeek Power List 2025 – #2 Walmart’s Dan Bartlett at PR Week

 

Amazon is acquiring Bee, maker of a wearable AI assistant that listens to conversations at GeekWire. “Bee is one of several startups developing wearables that listen to everything you say and turn recordings into summaries and insights. Bee also integrates email, calendar, contacts and more data.” Read more

 

Sheetz location to offer chainsaw sliced sandwiches at WTAJ

 

Vitamin Shoppe founder to list his Hamptons estate for $89M — after trying to sell it off-market for $125M at NY Post. “…the most unusual amenity may be the regulation-length, nine-hole golf course with views of nearby Fairfield Pond — a personal project of the golf-loving Horowitz.” Pics/Read more

 

Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods extend antitrust review period for merger at Investing

 

Nestle said that prices for its KitKat bars and Nespresso coffee pods could rise further in the second half of this year at CNBC

 

**Get your product, service or event in front of the most powerful decision-makers in the retail community. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

Amazon Hikes/WM -2% | Drone Fun | Vizio PL

/in

 

After Pledging to Keep Prices Low, Amazon Hiked Them on Hundreds of Essentials at WSJ. “The Journal’s analysis of prices from e-commerce data firm Traject Data found that while Amazon’s price rose on 1,200 of its cheapest household goods, competitor Walmart lowered prices on the same items by nearly 2%.” WSJ subs.

 

Coca-Cola reports weakening global sales volumes in second quarter at AP. “Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset weaker sales volumes. Case volumes fell 1% globally and 1% in North America, but Coke said Tuesday that pricing rose 6% for the April-June period.” Read more

 

…Coca-Cola will roll out cane sugar version of namesake soda in the U.S. this fall at CNBC

 

Lululemon’s bestselling black leggings pile up at outlet stores at Financial Post. “We’ve witnessed signals of a brand in decline and see risks to earnings ahead,” Konik said in a note to clients on Thursday. The analyst, a long-time critic of the company’s strategy, has had an underperform rating on Lululemon’s stock since 2022.” Read more

 

Target’s back-to-school event starts July 27th Press release

 

The Robots That Are Taking Over Your Food Delivery at WSJ. “Elizabeth Dockery, a 41-year-old mother of three in Charlotte, has gotten about a dozen drone deliveries through DoorDash…The Panera soup and drinks have never arrived sloshed, and her children are fascinated with the drones. “It’s really exciting for our family. It’s absolutely wild,” Dockery says.” WSJ subs.

 

Vizio TVs to become a Walmart private-label brand – will be exclusively sold at Walmart and Sam’s Club at Tom’s Guide/Yahoo

 

Target is ending its guarantee to price-match Amazon and Walmart on July 28 at USA Today. “Beginning July 28, Target will only match its own in-store and online prices at Target.com, if the price drops within 14 days, the spokesperson said.” Read more

 

Costco begins to make the switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola at food courts at Fox Business

 

Consumer Edge Data Reveals Shifts in U.S. General Merchandise Spending “Dollar stores and Amazon gain momentum…Warehouse club growth slows…Target’s new customer mix skews older and lower-income…” Press release

 

The Snack Wrap is so popular that some McDonald’s are running out of lettuce at Fortune

 

Apple Retail arrives in Saudi Arabia with launch of the Apple Store online Press release

WM Cuts 100’s | Back to School Early | Appliance Dissatisfaction

/in

 

Walmart is cutting hundreds of store-support roles: Report at CNBC. “…eliminating the market coordinator job that supports some managers…These coordinators are considered to be corporate positions, assisting market managers, who are responsible for supervising roughly a dozen store managers each…also cutting some coach and coordinator roles at Walmart Academy…” Read more

 

Couche-Tard drops offer to buy Japanese 7-Eleven c-stores at AP. “In the letter, sent to media Thursday and signed by its two top executives, including founder Alain Bouchard, Couche-Tard expressed exasperation at the response it was getting from Seven & i despite repeated attempts at dialogue.” Read more

 

China Threatens to Block Panama Ports Deal Unless Its Shipping Giant Is Part of It at WSJ. “China’s government is threatening to block a deal that would transfer ownership of dozens of seaports to Western investors if Cosco, China’s largest shipping company, doesn’t get a stake.” WSJ subs.

 

NRF: Back-to-School Season Begins Early “67% of back-to-school shoppers had already begun purchasing items for the upcoming school year as of early July…The early start is up from 55% last year and is the highest since NRF started tracking early shopping in 2018…51% of back-to-school families are shopping earlier…out of concern that prices will rise due to tariffs.” Press release

 

A fire at a shopping center in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people at AP

 

Amazon’s carbon emissions rise 6% amid AI boom at GeekWire. “…hit 68.25 million metric tons of carbon emissions — for comparison, that’s about two-thirds of the annual amount emitted by entire state of Washington.” Read more

 

**A message from Su Salsa – Shake up your salsa set with “a hint of lime” and the label that pops on shelf. Learn more | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

2025 Emmy nominations at CNN. List

 

J.D. Power: An Increase in Home Appliance Technology Brings Decrease in Satisfaction “…younger generations—particularly Gen Y and Gen Z—tend to expect a more intuitive user experience, yet they report more issues. We’ve also found that customers with Wi-Fi-connected appliances encounter more problems overall. Regardless of age, the takeaway is clear: simplicity in design and functionality can be an advantage.” Press release

 

UK retail giant Co-op confirms hackers stole all 6.5 million customer records at TechCrunch. “The breach at Co-op in April was part of a broader hacking campaign targeting the U.K. retail sector, which also saw the theft of an unspecified amount of customer data from Marks & Spencer and an attempted cyberattack on Harrods.” Read more

 

Saks Global Appoints Brandy Richardson as CFO Press release

 

Liquid Death Expands Into Energy Drinks—Easy on the Octane at WSJ. “Next January, the company will introduce Sparkling Energy, which it will promote as a better-for-you alternative to some of the competition, executives said. Twelve-ounce skinny cans will promise vitamins, no sugar or artificial sweeteners, and what Liquid Death calls an “unextreme” caffeine level of 100 milligrams.” WSJ subs.

 

Trump says Coca-Cola will use real sugar in its US flagship drink. The company isn’t confirming that at AP

 

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Rings NASDAQ Opening Bell Press release

 

**Advertise your product, service or trade show in Eye on Retail Tipsheet to get in front of the most powerful retail decision-makers in the world. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

Target Lost Identity | Heave the Beave | CPI +2.7%

/in

 

‘Lost their identity’: Why Target is struggling to win over shoppers and investors at CNBC. “Multiple former employees…said Target’s store standards have slipped in recent years as the company has tried to juggle online and in-store businesses with a leaner store staff — leading to items being out of stock. Customers and analysts also told CNBC they have seen longer checkout lines, messier aisles and fewer employees at stores.” Read more

 

US inflation accelerated last month at AP. “Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after rising just 0.1% the previous month.” Read more

 

Albertsons Companies Inc. Q1 ID sales +2.8% “…strong growth in pharmacy sales being the primary driver of the identical sales increase…continued to grow our digital sales with a 25% increase…” Press release

 

Adobe: Prime Day event drove $24.1 billion in online spend across U.S. retailers “…representing 30.3% growth year-over-year…generative AI traffic to U.S. retail sites…increased by 3,300% YoY…While paid search remained the top driver of retail sales online (28.5% share of revenue, up 5.6% YoY), affiliates and partners—which includes social media influencers — saw a greater lift (19.9% share, up 15% YoY).” Press release

 

The ‘Cable Cowboy’ Battles Buc-ee’s for the Soul of the West at WSJ. “Emotions have boiled over in Palmer Lake (population 2,500) since…Buc-ee’s…targeted undeveloped land along Interstate 25 for a new outlet: a 74,000-square-foot store…Some residents display “Heave the Beave” signs in their front yards. They have a powerful ally: billionaire media mogul John Malone, America’s second-largest private landowner. His nearby Greenland Ranch is one of the largest stretches of open land between Denver and Colorado Springs.” WSJ subs.

 

Target commercial team to return to HQ at least three times per week starting Sept. 2 at Kare 11

 

**A message from Comfy Sacks: Kids and adults love our foam-filled, long-lasting and soft bean bag chairs. Genius design + comfort. Made in USA. Website | Program details: info@eyeonretail.net

 

China falls for American-style bulk buying at Sam’s Club despite US trade tensions at Financial Times. “Sam’s Club…is one of China’s fastest-growing foreign retailers, with 56 stores in the country and plans for 60 by the end of the year…This compares with seven China stores from Costco…Even as economic momentum has slowed in China, Sam’s Club’s income from memberships there grew more than 40 per cent year on year in the first quarter…” Read more

 

Walmart ready for back to school “…offering the 14 most popular supplies at prices lower than last year, with some of the most requested back-to-school items available for just $0.25…launched Weekend Academy, a new private tween fashion brand, with most items available for under $15…” Press release

 

Can the French Reinvent America’s Broken Department-Store Model? at WSJ. “Printemps New York is following the European department-store playbook of serving up enough food and drinks, exhibitions and other activities to keep shoppers occupied far beyond the fitting room…It more closely resembles a chic nightspot than it does a suburban Macy’s. The new store features an espresso cafe under a green-and-white circus tent, three other restaurants, hand-painted tiles, a champagne bar and spa chairs for mini-facials and head massages.” WSJ subs.

 

L.L.Bean President and CEO Stephen Smith Plans Departure in 2026 Press release

 

US imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production at AP. “Mexico currently supplies around 70% of the U.S. tomato market, up from 30% two decades ago, according to the Florida Tomato Exchange.” Read more

 

**Advertise your products, services or events to the broad retail community in Eye on Retail Tipsheet. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

Costco +6.2% | Jassy @ Sun Valley | Back-to-School Steady

/in

 

Costco June comp sales (Ex fuel & f/x) +6.2%:

…US +5.5% / Canada +7.9% / Other Int’l +8.2% / Ecom +11.2% “Costco net sales for the first 44 weeks were $227.46 billion, an increase of 8.0 percent from $210.55 billion last year.” Press release

 

Deloitte: Parents Hold Firm on Back-to-School Budgets “Back-to-school spending for K-12 students will likely remain steady, estimated to reach a collective $30.9 billion, or approximately $570 per student…shoppers surveyed plan to increase their spending on clothing and accessories (+6%), while spending on technology and school supplies is expected to decline by 8% and 3%, respectively.” Press release

 

Who’s at Sun Valley’s Moguls Retreat This Year at Hollywood Reporter. Jassy/etc.

 

Retailers log $7.9 billion in online sales in first 24 hours of Prime Day at CNBC. “U.S. online sales jumped 9.9% year over year to $7.9 billion on Tuesday, the kickoff of Amazon’s Prime Day megasale, according to Adobe Analytics. At that level, it marks the “single biggest e-commerce day so far this year,” Adobe said.” Read more

 

Ulta Beauty Announces Acquisition of Leading British Beauty Retailer Space NK Press release

 

Ferrero to buy cereal maker WK Kellogg for $3.1 billion; Kellogg shares jump 30% at CNBC. “The move deepens Ferrero’s ambitions in the U.S. market. The third-largest U.S. candy company in May announced a new slate of products to appeal to American consumers, including peanut Nutella and Dr Pepper Tic Tacs.” Read more

 

Walmart’s fashion segment now a $29.5 billion business at Talk Business. “Baker said by the time kids are 10 years old, they have a lot of say in what they wear, meaning this generation wields massive purchasing power. Numerator reports that Gen Alpha (children under the age of 15) has an estimated $28 billion in direct purchasing power. About 53% of the parents of Gen Alpha kids give allowances for personal spending and saving.” Read more

 

Hudson’s Bay lender asks court to stop lease sale to Ruby Liu at Financial Post. “One of Hudson’s Bay’s biggest lenders says the department store chain has handled its liquidation so badly that a court should end a buzzy but fraught lease transaction the retailer signed with a B.C. billionaire and subject the company to even more oversight as it winds down.” Read more

Prime Day | Shein Eyes Hong Kong | Vanity Sizing/Kids

/in

 

Amazon sellers curb Prime Day discounts with tariffs taking bite at Bloomberg/Business Times. “…(Akeneo) conducted a survey of 1,000 US shoppers showing that one in four respondents planned to skip Prime Day due to tariffs while 57 per cent said they would more closely monitor prices…Upstream Brands sells aluminium trays that make decorative ice cubes…He usually sells his products at cost on Prime Day to promote the brand. But with them subject to 50 per cent tariffs, he’s not offering any discounts for the first time.” Read more

 

…Adobe: Prime Day event expected to drive $23.8 billion in online spend across U.S. retailers “… representing 28.4% growth year-over-year  — and $9.6 billion more than the comparable period last year. This is equivalent to two Black Fridays, which drove $10.8 billion in online spend during the 2024 holiday shopping season. Shopping on mobile devices is set to hit an all-time high, driving 52.5% of online sales (vs. desktop shopping) at $12.5 billion.” Press release

 

Shein files for Hong Kong IPO in hopes of salvaging London listing at CNBC. “Shein has been struggling to secure approvals for a London listing. U.K. and Chinese regulators have failed to agree on the language to be used in the risk disclosure section of the company’s prospectus.” Read more

 

Vanity Sizing Is Forcing Petite Women Into Kids’ Clothes—‘So Much Glitter’ at WSJ. “Kalani Tom used to spend about $500 dollars on a dress. But as she went from a size 2 to a 0 and then a 00 despite not losing any weight, she gave up on adult clothes. Now, she shops mostly in the girls’ section at Primark and spends about $25 per dress.” WSJ subs.

 

When Omnichannel Retailers Don’t Deliver What Customers Ordered at Harvard Business Review. “Retailers often assume that offering something rather than nothing will soften the blow when something is out of stock. But this logic breaks down when the “something” seems arbitrary or thoughtless…Our research shows that these negative reactions go beyond one-off complaints. Customers respond with both attitude and action…” Read more

 

**A message from Su Salsa – Shake up your salsa set with “a hint of lime” and the label that pops on shelf. Learn more | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Amazon Asked Some Advertisers to Double Their Spend During Prime Day at Adweek. “According to a pitch deck…Amazon this year recommended that a brand increase their daily ad spend by 25% in the days leading up to Prime Day to build awareness and find new customers. During Prime Day, Amazon recommended increasing daily ad spend by 100%…” Read more

 

How Unilever Used AI to Make Soap Go Viral at WSJ. “Currently the company works with tens of thousands of influencers and is aiming to grow that by 10 to 20 times over the next year, said Chief Enterprise and Technology Officer Steve McCrystal…About half of consumers make purchases at least once a month because of influencer content, he said…” WSJ subs.

 

Family Dollar Starts New Chapter as a Standalone Private Company “Brigade Capital Management, Macellum Capital Management, and Arkhouse Management Co. Partner to Acquire Family Dollar.” Press release

 

‘Chaos’ in sleepy Hamptons hamlet as trendy grocery store mobbed at NY Post. “The Sagaponack General Store, located in the second-wealthiest ZIP code in the country, was founded in 1878 but shut down during COVID. New owners snapped it up, gave it a multi-million dollar makeover and have been doing a roaring trade…“They’re making so many enemies,” said a retail tattletale, “The police have sent a crossing guard!” Read more

Target Donates | Buc-ees Lines | France Fines Shein

/in

 

US employers added a surprising 147,000 jobs last month at AP. “The unemployment rate ticked down 4.1% from 4.2% in May, the Labor Department said Thursday. Hiring rose modestly from a revised 144,000 in May and beat economists expectations of fewer than 118,000 new jobs and a rise in the unemployment rate.” Read more

 

What the U.S.-Vietnam trade deal tells us about the future of tariffs at CNBC. “…the U.S. will apply a 20% duty on Vietnamese imports — sharply below the 46% rate Trump had imposed in early April. U.S. imports to Vietnam will meanwhile not be subject to tariffs. Trump also said that Vietnam had agreed to a 40% duty on any products that originally came from another country, but were sent to Vietnam for final shipment to the U.S.” Read more

 

…Vietnam Trade Deal Takes Aim at Back Door for Chinese Goods at WSJ. “Michel Bertsch, who runs a factory in Vietnam that sells baby furniture such as cribs to the U.S. and other Western countries, said the 20% tariffs will inevitably translate into higher prices for American consumers. Still, he said he thought that Vietnam would remain a top destination for manufacturing. U.S. imports from China are subject to an average tariff of 40% to 50%, giving Vietnam an edge…” WSJ subs. 

 

France fines retailer Shein 40 million euros for misleading discounts at Reuters. “The probe, conducted across thousands of products on Shein’s French site between October 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023, found 57% of advertised deals were not, in fact, offering a lower price; 19% had less of a discount than advertised; and 11% were in fact price increases.” Read more

 

CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs at WSJ. “Artificial intelligence is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.,” Ford Motor’s Chief Executive Jim Farley said in an interview last week with author Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Ideas Festival. “AI will leave a lot of white-collar people behind.” WSJ subs.

 

TikTok lays off more employees working on TikTok Shop US at TechCrunch. “Per a report from Bloomberg, TikTok has conducted its third round of layoffs for this team since April, but has not disclosed how many jobs were impacted.” Read more

 

Andy Jassy’s latest canvas for reinvigorating Amazon’s cultural DNA? Employee reviews at Yahoo. “The move codifies and formalizes what was previously implied: that Amazon managers should evaluate employees in part on how well their actions live up to the company’s 16 Leadership Principles – corporate totems or values like “Bias for Action,” “Customer Obsession, and “Frugality”…” Read more

 

Target donated $300,000 to a Black church group. Why boycott activists want it returned. at USA Today. “During a Sunday sermon at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia…Bryant decried Target’s donation to the National Baptist Convention. He accused Target, whose CEO had met with Bryant and the Rev. Al Sharpton in April, of “going around” him to the National Baptist Convention.” Read more

 

Line for new Georgia Buc-ees wraps around the building at WSAV. “The line for the Buc-ees…was wrapped around the large building…included visitors who have been making stops at all the new Buc-ees openings. Staff recognized familiar faces from the Buc-ees that just opened in Virginia. Doors opened yesterday for Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s, bringing a little bit of Texas to the Commonwealth.” Read more

 

Target led U.S. last year in trademark applications as it launched new brands Star Tribune subs.

 

Hong Kong retailers under strain as changing trends drive store closures at Reuters. “Hong Kong’s retailers are battling against shifting consumer habits, as visitors spend less and locals head across the border to China for cheaper dining and shopping, leading to a wave of store closures.” Read more