NRF: Retail sales in 2018 could climb higher than previously forecast at CNBC. "Spending at retailers — excluding on automobiles, at gasoline stations and at restaurants — is predicted to climb between 4.2 and 4.8 percent, the National Retail Federation said Monday morning, giving a rare updated outlook for the remainder of the year. That's compared with a prior range of between 3.8 and 4.4 percent." Read more   Japan's Don Quijote interested in buying Walmart's Seiyu at Reuters. "Walmart has struggled to replicate the success of its low-price model with Seiyu, which has more than 300 stores...A Walmart spokesperson, however, [...]

  'Amazon tax': Britain is reportedly mulling over a special tax to help local online retailers, finance minister says at CNBC. "Hammond's comments come as department store House of Fraser was placed in administration on Friday, shortly before being bought by retailer Sports Direct for $115 million." Read more   Forbes: Best Employers for Women (Sephora #15, Wegmans #28, Gap #66) Ranked list   Canadian Tire Quarterly Comp Sales +1.6% at Reuters. "However, retail margins dipped 3 basis point, while analysts at Raymond James were expecting a rise of 21 basis points." Read more   Lowe's Ventures backs Moved by Anthony Ha [...]

  Costco July Comp Sales +8.3% / US +9.7% / Ecom +20.9% "...net sales of $10.59 billion for the retail month of July...an increase of 10.1 percent from $9.62 billion last year. For the first forty-eight weeks of fiscal 2018, the Company reported net sales of $127.40 billion, an increase of 12.1 percent." Press release   Party City lands a deal with Amazon at CNBC. "Party City will offer an assortment of items on Amazon to start, but with a big focus on Halloween costumes, the company said...expects the pilot program will eventually expand to other product categories for Christmas and the New Year, "with [...]

  A Guide to Walmart’s Ragtag Alliance Against Amazon by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. "“It’s the classic build-or-buy conundrum,” said Sucharita Kodali, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. “Walmart needs to innovate, but it just doesn’t make sense for it to build much of it in-house.” Tiered subs.   Amazon introduces grocery pickup service at select Whole Foods locations by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. "...available only to Prime members, will initially be available at stores in Sacramento and Virginia Beach, but will expand to more cities through the year...For orders over $35, the grocery pickup service is free. Under $35, the [...]

  Walmart, Nordstrom and others look to YouTube stars to woo millennials and Gen Z by Charisse Jones at USA Today. "(Walmart) will debut Ryan's World, a toy and T-shirt line created by the first-grader whose YouTube channel, Ryan ToysReview, gets roughly 950 million views a month. Among kids, "clearly what's emerged in the last few years is they’re watching an influencer like Ryan on YouTube, and he's their authority,'' says Anne Marie Kehoe, Walmart's vice president and divisional merchandise manager of toys." Read more   ...Meet the 6-year-old launching his own toy line with Walmart at NBC Today Video   Mattress Firm explores U.S. bankruptcy [...]

  New Starbucks partnership with Microsoft allows customers to pay for Frappuccinos with bitcoin at CNBC. ""It's very big news for bitcoin because people say, 'Where can you spend it?' Now at every single Starbucks," said Brian Kelly, founder and CEO of BKCM." Read more   FedEx won't charge extra fees for most packages delivered to homes during the peak holiday shopping season, except packages that are oversized, unauthorized or require additional handling. at Reuters. Read more   Top 15 celebrity endorsement deals in the fashion & retail industries by Spotted via CNBC.  10. Lord & Taylor and Christie Brinkley [...]

  Brookstone files for bankruptcy with plans to shutter more than 100 stores in malls at CNBC. "The company said it will continue to operate its airport, e-commerce and wholesale businesses — these units are what it hopes to sell. Brookstone currently has 35 locations in airports across the U.S." Read more   Lawsuit claims Walmart stole technology to keep produce fresh at Reuters. "In its $2 billion complaint, Zest Labs and its parent said Walmart’s “Eden” technology to preserve fruit and vegetable freshness “looks, sounds, and functions” like its own Zest Fresh technology." Read more   Publix Q2 Comp [...]

  Kroger launches 'Kroger Ship' delivery service in four cities: Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, and Nashville at CNBC. "Customers can shop online and receive free doorstep delivery on orders of more than $35, or pay a fee of $4.99 per order for smaller orders." Read more   ...“The customer is changing rapidly,” said Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer, in an interview. “It is creating a sense of urgency and huge opportunity for us.” by Heather Haddon at The Wall Street Journal. Subscription   Container Store Q1 Comp Sales +4.7% Press release   Best Buy expands the number of Teen Tech Centers [...]