Tag Archives: kmart

Walmart ditches Express and lagging stores

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There’s a big bag of woe in retail as the third major merchant in little more than a week announces store closings.

Walmart says it will close 269 stores in 2016, as the world’s largest tries to improve its finances.

imagesMost of the underperformers are sited within 10 miles of another Walmart. Of the stores on the chopping block, 154 locations are in the United States; two-thirds of those are the smaller “Walmart Express” stores, a pilot program that failed to get off the ground.

Only 12 U.S. Walmart Supercenters will close, along with four Sam’s Club stores. Most of the foreign closings will be in Brazil.

Of the 16,000 employees impacted, 10,000 work in U.S. stores. The company plans to place those workers in nearby Walmarts. Employees who don’t find a place will get 60 days’ severance and training in job hunting.

Walmart stock swooned 30 percent last year in tough times for retailers. Macy’s and Kmart also recently announced significant store closings.

Blue lights going dark at Kmarts

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Attention Kmart shoppers:

Dozens of stores are closing as the retailer in cutting its losses. So far, Kmart is planning liquidation sales at stores in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, South Dakota,  Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and Hawaii, with more to come.

Kmart in Washington Township is one of more than 100 Kmart and Sears full-line stores that will be closed following an announcement from Sears Holdings in December.

Kmart in Washington Township is one of more than 100 Kmart and Sears full-line stores that will be closed following an announcement from Sears Holdings in December.

“Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” says  Howard Reifs, director, corporate communications, for Sears Holdings, Kmart’s parent company. “These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail – at the store, online and in the home.”

It’s part of an initiative announced by Sears to shutter at least 100 Kmart and Sears locations in the U.S. after ice-cold holiday sales in electronics and apparel. The announcement comes days after Macy’s revealed it would close stores in response to lackluster sales.

Customers with layaway contracts at Kmart have the option of paying off the contract early or transferring their layaways to a neighboring store or online. Store staffers will receive severance pay and can apply for positions at surviving Sears or Kmart stores.

Lots of Ninja, less counter space

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There is a seemingly endless supply of small appliances we can add to our arsenal of kitchen helpers. But which ones deserve a coveted place on the pantry shelf?

The Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Pro Compact System was designed based on customer feedback  asking for a juicer that can perform multiple functions and doesn’t take up a lot of counter space.

Ninja Blender

Ninja Blender

Enter Ninja, a compact system that attacks multiple chores like, well, a ninja warrior. It plows through ice, frozen veggies and even nuts as readily as it blends ripe fruit. Picture your blender after six months of working out three times a week with a personal trainer.

Sure, it’s great for making smoothies. And the Auto-iQ system takes the guesswork out of blending. But the Pro Compact does more, which makes it a great choice in kitchens where space is limited—or in a larger kitchen that already is maxed out on square footage.

A 40-ounce blend and prep bowl has a powerful blade that can be used for both chopping and mixing dough. (Holiday alert: It’s super for mixing cookie dough.) There’s also a 30-page recipe guide, plus two 24-ounce Nutri Ninja Tritan Cups with sip-and-seal lids and a 24-ounce stainless steel Nutri Ninja Cup with lid for energy drinks on the run.

An additional attachment allows you to grind coffee beans and spices.

You can find the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Pro Compact System at Target, Kmart, Bed Bath and Beyond and other retailers. MSRP: $159.99.