“Family Dollar, Best Buy and Rite Aid Among America’s Least Respected Brands” by Phil Wahba at Fortune.  “There were plenty consumer-facing brands at the bottom of the list, including Denny’s, Best Buy, J.C. Penney  and Family Dollar Stores. For example, Penney, still trying to repair the damage from a failed experiment to go upscale two years ago, has a near perfect familiarity rating, but only 60% favorability.”  See the Top 10 Most Respected & Least Respected Brands

 

Washington Post Hits Target:  “5 unanswered questions about Target’s alleged firing of an employee for reporting a suspected shoplifter” by Tom Jackman.  “The claims by Dallas Northington that he was fired by Target for reporting a shoplifter, after working in security for the company for eight years, has attracted significant outrage…Some believe his firing may have been related to the suspected shoplifter, who Northington said was a Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputy.” Read more

 

“Amazon delivers nearly a third of orders for marketplace sellers” by Abby Callard at Internet Retailer.  “For June 2014, 31.8% of Amazon gross merchandise volume was shipped through the Fulfillment by Amazon program, up from 28.7% in June 2013. “ Read more

 

“J.C. Penney Fails to Tap HSN’s Grossman as CEO  (Holding out for Target?)” at The Street via Dallas News.  “Unfortunately for J.C. Penney, there are a number of high-profile retail CEO positions that are or could become available. One is Target , which counter to J.C. Penney, has opportunities to open new stores in the U.S. and Canada, and opportunities in the fashion apparel, accessories, and home goods components that fit with Grossman’s resume.” Read more

 

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“Amazon Employees Are 14.2% More Attractive Than You” by Adam Auriemma at WSJ.  “Amazon may lag Google Inc. in the smartphone market, but it is winning in at least one other category: employee attractiveness. The number crunchers at Hinge, a social-networking app that matches young professionals, have found that workers at the online retailer are more sought-after than their peers at Google.” Read more

 

“Lowe’s Employees Fix Vets Wheelchair, Because VA Wouldn’t” at Staten Island Advance.  “In 1971, I stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and lost both legs above the knee. For the past two years, I have been waiting to receive a new wheelchair from the Veterans Administration. In addition, I have been told that I am not entitled to a spare wheelchair…Three employees, David, Marcus and Souleyman jumped to my assistance immediately. They placed me in another chair while they went to work…” Read more

 

“J. Crew blasted for introducing size 000” by Adriana Barton at Globe & Mail.  “For days, retail giant J. Crew has been blasted for introducing clothing designed to fit the Incredible Shrinking Woman. Lynn Grefe, president of the U.S. National Eating Disorders Association, warned that the company’s new triple-zero sizing “will only triple the practice of unhealthy dieting in a society obsessed with skinny.” Read more

 

” ‘Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families’ Organization Hits Walgreens” “Several major national retailers including Walmart, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond have announced significant new initiatives to limit the use of toxic chemicals…Walgreens is considered a laggard.” Read the release

 

“CVS Caremark takes aim at Hispanic, specialty pharmacy market with Navarro deal” by Phil Wahba at Fortune.  “In its largest U.S. retail deal since 2008, when it bought 541 stores from Longs Drug to build up its Northern California footprint, CVS will buy Navarro Discount Pharmacy, the largest Hispanic-owned drugstore chain in the U.S. with 33 retail drugstores, as well as Navarro Health Services, a specialty pharmacy serving patients with complex or chronic diseases.” Read more

 

“Facebook partners with Nielsen to track users’ TV habits” by Robert Faturechi & Meg James at LA Times.  “Beginning this fall, when Facebook users watch a TV show on a cellphone or tablet, Facebook will probably know about it. The social network will scan its databases and send the age and gender of the viewer to Nielsen, the TV ratings measurement company, to help advertisers learn more about the audience watching shows online.” Read more

 

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