Even though many new TVs have ultra-HD 4K screens, American TV viewers haven’t been buying very much 4K content, which often sells at a higher price. But now that Apple is finally diving into 4K video — and selling it for the same price as HD — Amazon is slashing the cost of its 4K content. [More]
Retail Services
While Traditional Retailers Falter, Why Are Off-Price Stores Still Doing Okay?
By 9.25.17
Store closings and retail bankruptcies aren’t bad news for the entire retail industry. While the current turmoil in the business of department stores, toy stores, and clothing stores is bad for those is bad for those chains, it’s great for off-price retailers like TJX, Ross Stores, and Burlington. [More]
28,000 Jogging Strollers Recalled Because Kids Could Fall Out
By 9.25.17
Strollers can be a convenient way to get a child from point A to point B. But for some 28,000 recently recalled jogging strollers it isn’t quite that easy, as the front wheel of the stroller could break, possibly allowing a child to fall out. [More]
Here Is The List Of Aerosoles Stores Closing Because Of Bankruptcy
By 9.25.17
Comfy shoes seller Aerosoles recently followed in the footsteps of many other familiar mall retailers, declaring bankruptcy and announcing plans to shutter many of its retail locations. Now, thanks to a court filing, we have the list of the Aerosoles stores actually heading for eternal rest. [More]
Small Vendors Cut Ties With Toys ‘R’ Us, Concerned They Won’t Be Paid
By 9.25.17
While some suppliers of bankrupt toy mega-chain Toys ‘R’ Us are desperate to make sure that the chain stays in business, others are taking the opportunity to stop dealing with the mega-chain. That’s because they’ve already shipped thousands or millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise to the deeply indebted retailer that they may never be paid for. [More]
Target Raising Minimum Wage To $11/Hour With Promise To Hit $15/Hour By 2020
By 9.25.17
In an attempt to beat Walmart on worker pay (but not go as far as Costco), Target is raising its lowest hourly wage from $10 to $11 starting next month, with plans to increase that base rate up to $15 per hour by 2020. [More]
Customer Enters LongHorn Steakhouse, Venomous Snake Bites Her Foot
By 9.25.17
You wouldn’t expect that walking into a chain restaurant while wearing sandals would be dangerous, but a woman in Virginia was bitten by a common venomous snake in the lobby of a LongHorn Steakhouse two weeks ago. [More]
Tesla Thinks About Building Convenience Stores Around Superchargers
By 9.22.17
If convenience stores and rest stops evolved around travelers’ need to fuel up, why shouldn’t the same be true for electric vehicles? So it makes sense that Tesla is envisioning a possible future where their supercharger docks are surrounded by other amenities for drivers. [More]
L.L. Bean Runs Full-Page Ad You Can Only Read In Sunlight
By 9.22.17
In a move that simultaneously evokes awww-neat childhood memories of “invisible ink” while also marketing an outdoor lifestyle brand, L.L. Bean has taken out a full-page newspaper ad that can only be read in the sunlight. [More]
Photographer Claims Urban Outfitters, Macy’s Used Tupac Photos Without Permission
By 9.22.17
The late Tupac Shakur might no longer have any say over how his image is used, but that doesn’t mean you can use a photograph of the famed rapper without getting permission from the photographer. [More]
SprinT-Mobile Reportedly Closer To Being An Actual Thing
By 9.22.17
This just in: Sprint and T-Mobile were seen registering for china and a food processor at the wireless big-box store. That’s right, speculation continues to heat up in the will-they-won’t-they story that would combine the country’s No. 3 and No. 4 wireless providers in matrimony. [More]
Walmart Wants To Deliver Groceries Straight To Your Fridge While You Watch From Afar
By 9.22.17
Ever wish your refrigerator would just magically restock itself? Walmart hasn’t cracked sorcery yet, but it is testing a grocery delivery service that would bring food right into customers’ homes — while they watch remotely. [More]
5 Things We Learned About How Aldi Can Compete With Grocery Stores
By 9.21.17
The battle between Aldi and other grocery chains has been raging for a while now; from the price war with Walmart to earmarking $1.6 billion to upgrade stores to be more Whole Foods-esque. But just how can the relatively small supermarket chain compete with bigger chains and win over customers? [More]
Anthropologie Cancels Orders After Accidentally Listing $8,000 Couches For Free
By 9.21.17
A couch is a big investment — a really nice piece of furniture can cost thousands of dollars. So you can imagine how excited some shoppers were to find Anthropologie selling an $8,000 couch online for… nothing. Alas, that excitement was short-lived, after the company explained that it had all been a mistake. [More]
CVS Limiting Opioid Prescriptions Amid National Addiction Epidemic
By 9.21.17
Opioid prescription rates have more than tripled in the last two decades contributing to the nation’s current opioid addiction crisis, according to CVS. Now, the country’s largest pharmacy chain plans to do something about it by limiting opioid prescriptions. [More]
Death Wish Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Recalled Over Botulism Risk
By 9.21.17
There’s strong coffee, and then there’s really strong coffee. If you were planning to drink a can the world’s purported strongest coffee, you might want to think again: Death Wish Coffee has issued the recall of certain cans of its nitro cold brew after discovering they could contain a deadly toxin. [More]
Albertsons Buys Plated, Plans To Bring Meal Kits To Grocery Stores
By 9.21.17
Just when you thought the popularity surrounding meal kits was cooling down, grocery stores have jumped into the ring, creating their own version of the convenient pre-selected, pre-proportioned boxes of ingredients. But Albertsons Co. — operator of supermarkets like Safeway and Jewel-Osco — is taking a different road: It’s simply buying an existing meal kit service, Plated. [More]
Target Debuts Maps Of Stores So You Don’t Have To Talk To Employees
By 9.20.17
Big box stores are, well, big. So big, in fact, you might get lost looking for the toilet paper. But instead of sheepishly approaching an employee, you can now just follow the map on your phone — at Target, anyway. [More]
