Author: Kim Souza

Kim Souza

Walmart to raise pay for opticians, pharmacists

Walmart will raise pay for more than 4,000 opticians at its U.S. eye care centers to an average wage of $22.50 an hour. The increase does not include Sam’s Club….

Walmart shareholders approve directors, discuss worker safety amid rising gun violence

Wednesday’s (May 31) annual business meeting for Walmart Inc. shareholders went as expected. The meeting was held virtually and lasted about an hour, and included a question-and-answer session with shareholders….

The Supply Side: Electronic shelf tags coming to 500 Walmart stores this year

Walmart Inc. has announced plans to expand electronic shelf pricing technology in the next 18 months to 500 more stores for 60 million shelf labels through a partnership with Vusion….

Northwest Arkansas sales tax revenue up 8.89% in May reports

The four largest Northwest Arkansas cities reported cumulative sales tax revenue of $9.664 million in the May report, up 8.89% from the year-ago period. Bentonville saw the biggest gains in…

Walmart opens automated market fulfillment center in Bentonville

It’s been two years in the making, but the new market fulfillment center (MFC) attached to Walmart Store No. 100 at 406 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville is open. It…

The Supply Side: Retail media networks reshaping digital marketing

In the hyper-competitive retail world, the rise of media network platforms such as Walmart Connect or Target’s Roundel continues to grow amid ever-changing consumer expectations. Researchers at the Sam M….

Walmart quarterly revenue up 7.6%; net income down more than 18%

Walmart on Thursday (May 18) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results for the fiscal quarter ending April 30. The Bentonville-based retailer grew total revenue to $152.3 billion, up 7.6% compared with the…

U.S. retail sales rebound in April; credit card debt rises

Consumer spending on goods and services inched higher in April with overall retail sales up 1.6% from a year ago and up 0.4% from the prior month, according to Tuesday’s…

Analysts estimate 5% revenue growth in Walmart’s first fiscal quarter

Equity analysts and investors are not expecting any surprises from Walmart when it reports first-quarter earnings early Thursday (May 18). The Bentonville-based retail giant recently spent two days with the…

Costco plans to build a store in Lowell

Wholesale club giant Costco has plans for its first club in Northwest Arkansas and its second in the state. Lowell Mayor Chris Moore confirmed with Talk Business & Politics the…

The Supply Side: Resale interest rises among traditional retailers

The National Retail Federation said the rise of resale continues to be a significant focus, with more retailers entering the growing market at the urging of consumers. Morningstar estimates the…

Amazeum gets $10.35M from Lee Scott family for expansion

The Scott Family Amazeum is expanding with the help of a $10.35 million gift from the Lee and Linda Scott family. Details were announced Thursday (May 11) at the Bentonville…

Tyson Foods’ share price falls to 3-year low; market cap down more than $12 billion

Owning Tyson Foods has, in recent months, been a hard ride. The company’s share price has plummeted more than 46% in the past year. Since January, Tyson’s market cap –…

NRF: More retail store closures, fewer openings announced in first quarter

The first quarter of 2023 was rough for many U.S. retailers with 1,760 store closings between January and March, up 177% from a year ago, the National Retail Federation (NRF)…

Tyson Foods posts $97 million quarterly loss, reduces earnings guidance

Tyson Foods reported a second fiscal quarter net income loss of $97 million on Monday (May 8), a wide swing from net income of $829 million in the same quarter…

The Supply Side: Families trading down, buying less amid persistent inflation

There is a widening gap between consumer perceptions and reported inflationary food prices by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to a survey report from PYMNTS.com conducted in late…

Walmart promotes Latriece Watkins to chief merchandising officer

Walmart Inc. has promoted Latriece Watkins to chief merchandising officer. John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., shared the news with employees Friday (May 5) in an internal memo….

Tyson Foods expected to report 65% earnings decline

Springdale-based Tyson Foods is expected to report a 65% decline in net earnings per share for the second quarter ending March 31. The consensus estimate is $285.68 million in net…

NRF: Mother’s Day spending expected to top $35.7 billion

The National Retail Federation expects U.S. consumers will spend big for the May 14 Mother’s Day. The trade group’s survey with Prosper Insights predicts spending will top $35.7 billion, up…

NWACC receives $618K grant to expand package design programming

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville received a $618,319 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant through the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the college’s programming around packaging design and…

Arkansas to lead National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship expansion

The Supply Side: Boomer generation concedes spending power to young consumers

2nd cohort of new lithium accelerator shows innovations in Bentonville

Weekly wages up 4.2% in Arkansas, Benton County leads with 13.4% wage gain