Sam’s Club will raise pay to incentivize workers to stay with the company — and not jump ship to Costco. Sam’s Club, the membership club arm of Walmart, will increase its minimum wage to $16 starting in November from $15 an hour. It will also raise wages for its nearly 100,000 employees, ranging from 3…
Joe Keenan
The Biden administration announced new steps on Friday to curtail what it calls the “overuse and abuse” of a longstanding trade law that permits low-value shipments to enter the United States without paying import duties and processing fees. The steps include a new rule proposal which would bar overseas shipments of products that are subject…
After securing a last-minute buyer, LL Flooring is reversing course on shutting down all of its stores. The hardwood flooring retailer formerly known as Lumber Liquidators signed an agreement with private equity firm F9 Investments for a sale of its business on Friday afternoon. Under terms of the deal, expected to close by the end of September,…
In episode 464 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton, co-CEOs of Omni Talk Retail, a fast-growing blog and podcast channel providing news, analysis and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry. Mezzenga is also a speaker at Total Retail Tech 2024, the summit for…
Costco Wholesale's membership increase took effect on Sunday as its annual membership fees increased to $65 from $60 for its Gold Star plan and to $130 from $120 for its Executive plan. While Wall Street analysts have long pushed for Costco to increase membership fees, the latest increase marks the first time the company has upped…
Off-price department store chain TJ Maxx has launched a new incubator program in partnership with celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger to support emerging stylists. Named “Styled by Runway,” the program provides five upcoming stylists with career-building mentorship, a platform to refine their styling aesthetic, and access to high-end brands through TJ Maxx's premium designer shop, Runway.…
In episode 463 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Rah Mahtani, head of marketing, North America at Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. Listen in as Mahtani discusses the launch of Alibaba Guaranteed (0:55), how the solution addresses global sourcing challenges (2:45), and the process of incorporating feedback from buyers…
Kroger sued the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday, seeking to block the regulator from reviewing the grocery chain's proposed $25 billion merger with smaller rival Albertsons in its in-house tribunal. Kroger called the tribunal unconstitutional, saying the matter should be resolved in a federal court. The lawsuit filed in Cincinnati comes a week…
LL Flooring has announced that it will close 94 stores in more than 30 states as it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, said that it is nearly $110 million in long-term debt in filings made in Delaware bankruptcy court on Sunday. The Richmond, Virginia-based company said in the filings…
In episode 462 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lauren Benton, general manager, U.S. at Back Market, a verified refurbished technology marketplace. Listen in as Benton provides an overview of the business (1:00), its process for sourcing quality used devices (1:55), and Back Market's first Impact Report showcasing its sustainability efforts (3:55). She…
Under Armour, Inc. is appointing Eric Liedtke as executive vice president of brand strategy following the completion of its acquisition of Unless Collective, Inc., a zero-plastic regenerative fashion brand. The transaction is expected to be completed later this week. After a 26-year career at Adidas Group, culminating in roles as brand president and executive board…
Primark announced that it will open a new store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Sept. 12. The retailer's first store in Michigan, this opening will offer Detroit-area shoppers more than 36,600 square feet of retail selling space with the latest fashion trends and essentials for the whole family, as well as…
In episode 461 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Maya Baluschak, director of digital marketing and loyalty at Rexall, a leading Canadian pharmacy and drugstore chain. Listen in as Baluschak provides an overview of the Rexall business (0:45), her role at the company (1:15), and digital marketing efforts to differentiate the pharmacy chain…
Archive, a branded resale technology platform, recently partnered with New Balance to launch in-store trade-in at nearly 100 participating U.S. retail locations. As the natural progression of the New Balance Reconsidered program, which launched earlier this year, customers can now bring in their gently worn footwear to receive a voucher towards their next purchase at New Balance locations.…
Amazon.com and the Better Business Bureau filed a lawsuit last week against a business called ReviewServiceUSA.com that allegedly facilitated the sale of fake, positive reviews on Amazon product listings and Better Business Bureau profile pages. “In exchange for a fee, defendants or their agents used customer accounts that they control to post fake product reviews on…
