Personnel Updates
• Amazon.com Inc. (492) is hosting a series of Amazon Career Day events to hire about 30,000 full-and part-time jobs at Amazon locations across the country.
• BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (120) stated that Lee Delaney, Chief Commercial Officer, has been promoted to President of the company.
• Dollar General Corp. (145) announced it has appointed Jeffery C. Owen, as COO. Steven G. Sunderland will succeed him as Exec VP Store Operations.
• Tru Kids Brands, Inc. (31) has named Jamie Uitdenhowen as President of a joint venture with retailer B8ta, called Toy Retail Showrooms.
• Walmart Stores Inc. (246) has appointed Nuala O’Connor as Senior VP and Chief Counsel of Digital Citizenship.
Financial Focus
• Fred’s Inc. has filed for bankruptcy.
Industry Insight
• Amazon.com Inc. will expand its office in downtown Chicago by more than 70,000 sq. ft, allowing the company to create 400 new tech jobs in the city.
• Christmas Tree Shops Inc. said it is no longer selling products on its website. However, customers can still browse the site to find items sold in stores.
• Crate & Barrel has announced plans to open up to 15 full-service restaurants at existing locations.
• Walmart Stores Inc. has opened its first Walmart Health center attached to a remodeled Walmart Supercenter in Dallas, GA. It offers basic health care and diagnostic services in partnership with local providers.
• Walmart Stores Inc. opened a new Essentials PetCare in-store veterinary clinic in Dallas, GA. Like existing Essentials PetCare locations in Florida and Texas, the in-store clinic will provide routine vaccinations, lab work and treatment for a variety of minor conditions. The first four of nine new clinics were rolled out in Texas earlier this year.
Real Estate
• Apple Inc. announced it has opened a new store at Aventura Mall, in Miami, FL.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. said it will remodel 160 stores in advance of the upcoming holiday season.
• Dollar General Corp. announced that it is building new stores in Washington and Wyoming. When completed, these stores will expand Dollar General’s presence to 46 states throughout the country.
• Fred’s Inc. has begun liquidation sales at its stores, which it said are expected to close by the end of October.
• GameStop Holdings Corp. announced it is on track to close from 180 to 200 stores globally by the end of the year.
Technology News
• Target Corporation is now offering its Drive Up curbside click-and-collect service at 1,750 stores in all 50 states. The service allows customers to place a mobile order, pull up to their local store, and have an associate bring the order to their car for free.