The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has won a ruling against Amazon for harassing employees seeking to unionize its JFK8 and DYY6 fulfillment facilities in Staten Island, N.Y. In a Nov. 21 ruling, Administrative Law Judge Lauren Esposito found that Amazon had violated the National Labor Relations Act by dismissing employees early, altering employees’ work assignments and subjecting employees to closer supervision in retaliation for their support for the Amazon Labor Union. The decision also found that Amazon unlawfully interrogated employees, disparaged the union by using appeals to rac ..read more

Christmas in the UK is already in full swing. The UK remains a global shopping destination and traditionally sees a significant influx of tourists during the Christmas season. Retailers naturally plan a lot of spend around this, with extra staff and extra marketing. But this year it makes sense for those retailers to save a little for another holiday period just a few months away: Lunar New Year. Here’s why. Chinese Tourists are Nowhere Near Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels Chinese tourists have long been recognized as some of the highest-spending visitors in the world, with an affinity for luxury ..read more

Although Hy-Vee has offered different components of retail media for some years, it has “been building in earnest” and officially launched Hy-Vee RedMedia, its full-scale retail media network early this fall, according to Jessica Enos, SVP of Retail Media for Hy-Vee, Inc. Hy-Vee is prioritizing this growth area through a strategic partnership with Samsung that allows the supermarket chain to bring dynamic ads and content into stores, as well as through a robust network of Samsung Connected TVs and Direct Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising channels.  “Hy-Vee, as an organization, has been innov ..read more

Katie Mullen is Chief Experience Officer of JCPenney and has played a key role in bringing the retailer’s “Make it Count” strategy to life. During this episode of Experience Insiders, she shares how JCPenney is leveraging consumer insights to inform its in-store services, and how the company is using beauty and self-care services to drive traffic, engagement and loyalty ..read more

Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a division of Build-A-Bear Workshop, is bringing its latest feature film, Glisten and the Merry Mission, to digital platforms following its theatrical debut last month. The movie, which is inspired by the retailer’s Merry Mission plush collection, is now available for rent or purchase on the Build-A-Bear website and streaming platforms in North America, as well as via digital on-demand in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Glisten and the Merry Mission follows a young elfling, Marzipan, and her mother Cinnameg, the newly minted manager of Santa’s tro ..read more

Sam’s Club plans to open two new distribution centers (DCs) during Q1 2024 — a 370,000-square-foot facility in the St. Louis area and a 365,000-square-foot DC in Shakopee, Minn., near Minneapolis. The new facilities are part of the retailer’s multi-year growth plan, which also includes opening a DC in Oklahoma City and a fulfillment center in Lithia Springs, Ga. The St. Louis facility, located in Edwardsville, Ill., is slated to open in January 2024 and will create more than 100 jobs across the region. The Minnesota facility is scheduled to open in March 2024 and employ 80+ associates. Hiring ..read more

Walmart has kicked off a three-month pilot offering free HIV screenings at pharmacies in Petersburg and Ashland, Va. The finger prick blood sample tests will be administered by Walmart pharmacists, and while customers are waiting the 20 to 30 minutes for their results the pharmacists can discuss other preventative measures such a STI tests, contraceptive use, medication to treat or prevent the spread of HIV and vaccines the patient may need. The tests are screenings, not diagnoses; in the event of a positive test, the pharmacists will help patients work with their primary care physician or th ..read more

Nieman Marcus has rejected Saks Fifth Avenue’s latest takeover bid, according to the Wall Street Journal. This offer had valued Neiman Marcus at $3 billion, but the luxury retailer objected to the deal’s structure because a significant portion of the payout would not have been in cash, people familiar with the matter told WSJ.   This latest round of takeover talks has been underway for months, continuing a saga that began as far back as 2017, when Neiman Marcus put itself up for sale and began merger talks with Saks’ parent company Hudson’s Bay. That round of negotiations fell through af ..read more

Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with family experience company and retailer CAMP on a new “club experience” for toddlers and tweens. Reminiscent of the “kids clubs” available through many vacation resorts and cruise ships, CAMP Club is designed to offer engaging and interactive experiences at Marriott Bonvoy’s hotels and resorts worldwide that are tailored to the needs of different age groups. Following a pilot program in 2022, Marriott Bonvoy and CAMP plan to expand the CAMP Club concept starting with the new all-inclusive Marriott Cancun resort in spring 2024. CAMP Club is a bookable expe ..read more

The retail industry is facing exceptional challenges in this post-pandemic era. Customers are more demanding, less loyal and more diverse than ever before. Add concerns such as labor shortages and the quest for greater profitability and the odds begin to look more than just demanding. To stay ahead of the curve, a lot depends on warehouse logistics and distribution. So how can retailers survive and thrive in this new normal? To overcome these hurdles, artificial intelligence (AI), automation and robotics have emerged as game-changing solutions that are driving the retail industry forward. How ..read more