“Wal-Mart opens largest online fulfillment center” by Alistair Barr  at USA Today.  “The warehouse, based in Bethlehem, Pa., will be more than 1 million square feet and employ over 350 full-time staff when it opens in the first quarter of 2014. Another new online fulfillment center, based in Fort Worth, Tex., is 800,000 square feet and employs 275 full-time staff. It began shipping orders last week, Wal-Mart said.”  Read more

 

“Home Depot tackles mobile gaming to score sales” by Lauren Johnson at Mobile Commerce Daily.  “The home improvement retailer is launching the app as part of its sponsorship for ESPN’s College Gameday. In addition to the gaming element, Home Depot’s mobile app also links back to the retailer’s Web site to let consumers learn how to build their own version of a cornhole game and shop for products.” Read more

 

“Interbrand Releases 14th Annual Best Global Brands Report:  Amazon #19, IKEA #26”  “For the first time in the history of Interbrand’s Best Global Brands report, there is a new #1 brand: Apple. Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultancy, publishes Best Global Brands on an annual basis, identifying and examining the top 100 most valuable global brands. With Apple claiming the top position this year, Google jumps to #2 and Coca-Cola, the brand that held the #1 position for 13 consecutive years, moves to #3.”  See the rankings

 

“Wal-Mart asks consumers for ‘Buy American’ pledge” by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  ““We’re going to rebuild that class of American jobs in the middle that made this country great and rebuild that path to a better life,” Simon said during the two-day U.S. Manufacturing Summit held in Orlando last month.  That quote was part of the message sent to consumers on Friday, communicated through a targeted e-mail to those who have ordered on Walmart.com. Consumers who click on the pledge icon in the e-mail are asked to provide their name, e-mail address and zip code. In doing so, Wal-Mart can track those shoppers who have a desire to “Buy American” which provides them future marketing opportunities”  Read more

 

“Home Depot has best online gift card program” by Carla Caldwell at Atlanta Bus. Chronicle.  “Internet Retailers reports The Home Depot scored well because the retailer makes its e-gift card easy to find – it features a Gift Cards button at the top of its e-commerce site, near its shopping cart – it offers multiple gift options, including the ability for multiple consumers to send a friend one gift card, and because its e-gift cards are easy to personalize.”  Read more

 

“Container Store Files for $200M IPO” at Fox Business.  “The company, which sells a range of storage products from laundry baskets to luggage, said it operates 62 stores in 22 American states and the District of Columbia.  The Container Store’s net sales grew 11.5 percent to $706.7 million in the year ended March 2. Net loss narrowed to $130,000 from $30.7 million.”  Read more

 

“Amazon boosts holiday hiring 40%” by Jay Greene at Seattle Times.  “Amazon plans to add 70,000 full-time seasonal jobs in its 45 warehouses in the country for the holidays. Last year, when it had 40 warehouses, it hired 50,000 seasonal workers.”  Read more

 

“AT&T Begins Spreading Its Gigabit Fiber in Austin, Taking On Google” by Ina Fried at All Things D.  “AT&T said Monday night that it has begun its gigabit-per-second fiber deployment in Austin, Texas — a move that rivals Google’s own fiber plans for the city.”  Read more

 

“Fewer buttons? Retailers skimping to boost profits” by Stephanie Landsman at CNBC via @RetailDive.  “”Retailers have trained consumers like dogs to pay prices of yesteryear for merchandise that is of lower quality.”  Read more

 

“Dollar General Takes Over #206 Spot From Netflix” at Forbes.  “In the latest look at the underlying components of the S&P 500 ordered by largest market capitalization, Dollar General has taken over the #206 spot from Netflix, according to The Online Investor.”  Read more

 

“Walmart Foundation Names New President”  “Walmart today announced that Kathleen McLaughlin, 48, has been named president of the Walmart Foundation, effective October 15. In addition to leading corporate giving, she will have responsibility for the company’s global sustainability, women’s economic empowerment initiatives and healthier food initiatives.”  Read more

 

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