• Amazon Leaping Into Free Same-Day Shipping, Eyeing Private-Label Groceries
    Amazon will offer free same-day shipping to its Prime members in 14 metro areas across the country for more than a million of its items on orders over $35 - if placed before noon - it said yesterday. Meanwhile, the "Wall Street Journal" reports that trademark applications indicate that the online retailer will be adding private-label grocery items to its digital center aisles.
  • Consumers Feeling a Bit Better Globally But The Buts Abound
    Consumer confidence in the United States improved modestly through mid-May after having declined sharply in April and reversing a three-month slide, according to The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which is conducted by Nielsen.
  • Sports Marketing, FIFA Execs Face Corruption Charges
    Four sports marketing executives and a broadcaster from the U.S. and South America were charged with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies along with nine leaders of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), soccer's governing body, in a 47-count indictment unsealed early this morning. Many of the defendants were rounded up in a luxury hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, where they were gathered for FIFA's annual meeting.
  • Ireland Says 'I Do' To Global Campaign To Attract LGBT Weddings
    In the jet stream of Ireland's landslide passage of a referendum legalizing gay marriage on Friday, Tourism Ireland has launched a global "Ireland says I do" campaign targeting the LGBT community for weddings and honeymoons.
  • CVS Takes On Age With $10.4 Billion Cash Deal For Omnicare
    In the latest deal making the pharmaceutical industry ever more monolithic, CVS is acquiring Omnicare, the nation's largest provider of prescription meds to those in long-term care, for $10.4 billion in cash. It will also assume debt of $2.3 billion, putting a $12.7 billion price tag on the deal.
  • Target Hits Its Numbers - And More - In Turnaround Under Cornell
    Same-store sales for Target rose 2.3% for the first quarter, the Minneapolis-based retailer announced yesterday, and e-commerce zoomed 38%, suggesting that the shake-up led by Brian Cornell since he took over as CEO in August is taking root even as the category itself is resistant to growth. The bottom line showed 52% improves, with a $635 million profit.
  • Takata Reverses Gear, Recalls 34 Million Vehicles For Air Bag Repairs
    After months of news stories, pressure from government agencies and lawmakers, and six deaths worldwide linked to air bags that exploded with too much force, Tokyo-based Takata announced yesterday that it has consented to recall 33.8 million vehicles across 11 manufacturers for repairs in the U.S. - about double the previous amount already recalled by automakers.
  • Dressbarn Parent Ascena Dons Ann Taylor For $2.1 Billion
    After months of rumors that its parent company - Ann Inc. - was looking for a buyer, Ann Taylor, Loft and Lou & Grey have been sold for more than $2.1 billion to Ascena Retail Group, whose holdings including plus-size clothier Lane Bryant and Dressbarn.
  • 'Pitch Perfect 2' Hits Right Note With Young Female Audience
    Universal's "Pitch Perfect 2," directed by Elizabeth Banks, not only made more money over its opening weekend - $70.3 million - than its predecessor did for its entire theatrical run ($65 million), it's also the highest-grossing launch for a musical and for a first-time director. And, as many headlines tell us, it did a number on the male-targeted "Mad Max: Fury Road," which rang up a lesser $44.4 million despite its more favorable reviews.
  • Carl's Jr. And Hardee's Serve Up 1,000-Calorie 'Most American Cheeseburger'
    Sound the John Philip Sousa. In time for the traditional Memorial Day and July 4 celebrations at the local fast-food joint, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are rolling out a concoction called The Most American Cheeseburger.
« Previous Entries