PayPal pushes into in-person payments with cashback rewards, Apple integration at Reuters. “PayPal is expanding into U.S. point-of-sale payments by integrating its debit card with Apple’s mobile wallet and offering 5% cashback rewards, as the global online payments giant seeks direct competition with tech companies and banks.” Read more

 

Target slows store theft, but at a cost to shopping experience at Minneapolis Star Tribune. “They’ve locked up a lot,” said Joey Mueller, 31, about his local Target store in northeast Minneapolis. “It’s toothpaste, deodorant, laundry detergent. … Out of principle, if it’s locked up, I don’t buy it.” Read more

 

Casey’s Q1 inside comp sales +2.3% Press release

 

Shein’s pop-up store ruffles South African retail sector at Reuters. “The store that opened in Mall of Africa, north of Johannesburg, for just over a week in August attracted long queues of customers eager for clothes and accessories often selling for the equivalent of less than $10 each.” Read more

 

The Buckle, Inc. August comp sales +1.7% Press release

 

Dollar Tree, Inc. Q2 comp sales: Dollar Tree +1.3%; Family Dollar -0.1%; Enterprise +0.7% “We are encouraged by the continuous progress we are making in the transformation underway at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, despite immense pressures from a challenging macro environment,” said Rick Dreiling, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.” Press release

 

Ontario’s corner stores allowed to sell alcohol as of today at Yahoo. “All grocery stores will be able to sell alcohol by Oct. 31, but spirits will only be available in Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores and outlets. Shim said the development for convenience stores is a lifeline to many stores that have seen tobacco sales plummet, which he attributes to the rise of illegal tobacco sales and a slumping economy.” Read more

 

Dick’s Q2 comp sales +4.5% Press release

 

Amazon is ‘joint employer’ of some contracted delivery drivers, labor group says at CNBC. “Amazon has fought to avoid being designated as a joint employer of its sprawling network of contracted delivery companies. Lawmakers and labor groups, including the Teamsters union, have disputed the company’s characterization, saying drivers wear Amazon-branded uniforms, drive Amazon-branded vans and have their schedules and performance expectations set by the company.” Read more

 

Shoe Carnival Q2 comp sales -2.1% Press release

 

The Nordstrom family teams up with a Mexican retail group to bid for its namesake retailer at AP. “The Mexican retail group, El Puerto de Liverpool, operates more than 300 stores in Mexico and is that nation’s third-largest credit card issuer with over 7.2 million active accounts. It already owns about 9.6% of Nordstrom stock.” Read more

 

Walmart leads in online grocery with 37% of U.S. market share at Talk Business. “Online grocery pickup remains a popular choice, with Walmart claiming 58% of the total share in the second quarter.” Read more

 

Wharton School’s Baker Retailing Center and RLC Global Forum Announce Initial Speaker Lineup for the 2024 CEO Summit “Mary Dillon, President and CEO of Foot Locker, Inc., will be honored the night before the summit with the Retail Excellence Award…Confirmed speakers to date include: John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S.” Press release

 

U.S. safety regulator calls for probe of Temu, Shein over ‘deadly baby and toddler products’ at CNBC. “We seek to better understand these firms, particularly their focus on low-value direct-to-consumer — sometimes called de minimis — shipments and the enforcement challenges when firms with little or no U.S. presence distribute consumer products through these platforms,” the commissioners wrote.” Read more