Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

USDA: 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne illness each year; series of PSAs launched to address food safety

WASHINGTON, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In an effort to educate children and their families about the importance of food safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ad Council are joining 20th Century FOX to launch a series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks. The PSAs use footage from the upcoming film Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip to introduce viewers to four steps to food safety: clean, separate, cook and chill.

An estimated 1 in 6 (48 million) Americans get sick from foodborne illness each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children are among the most vulnerable to food poisoning because their immune systems are still developing, so caregivers need to take extra precautions when preparing food for children under five.

The partnership includes TV, radio, out-of-home and web advertising. Parents and children can also find kid-friendly activities that further reinforce the food safety steps by visiting FoodSafety.gov.

“Young children are at a higher risk for foodborne illness, and keeping them safe is a top priority for FSIS,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Alfred Almanza. “These familiar characters offer USDA a great opportunity to communicate this valuable public health message in a way to get the attention of children and parents.”

The new PSAs are an extension of USDA and Ad Council’s Food Safe Families campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the risk of foodborne illness and encourage families to learn and practice key steps that will help everyone stay safe from foodborne illness through the following safe food handling behaviors:

Clean: Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after handling raw food. Clean all surfaces and utensils with soap and hot water. Wash all produce under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
Separate: Use separate plates and utensils to avoid cross-contamination between raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs and foods that are ready to eat (like already cooked foods or raw vegetables).
Cook: Cook foods to the safe temperature by using a food thermometer.
Chill: Chill foods promptly if not consuming immediately after cooking. Don’t leave food at room temperature for longer than two hours, or 1 hour if temperature is above 90°F.

Consumers can see these new PSAs and learn more about key food safety practices at Foodsafety.gov, by ‘following’@USDAFoodSafety on Twitter, and by ‘liking’ Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov. Consumers with questions about food safety, can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov, available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English or Spanish.

If you have questions about storage times of food or beverages, download USDA’s new FoodKeeper application for Android and iOS devices.

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Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Overstock.com: t0.com successfully used bitcoin blockchain to record evidence of compliance with SEC Regulation SHO before a trader can engage in a short-sale

t0.com Completes Another Successful Production Beta Test of Its Software

SALT LAKE CITY, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — t0.com, a majority-owned subsidiary of Overstock.com, Inc.(NASDAQ:OSTK) today announced it successfully completed another production beta test of its t0 software, by successfully using the bitcoin blockchain to record evidence of compliance with SEC Regulation SHO before a trader can engage in a short-sale. When fully operational, a platform operating the t0 software and the information being recorded on the blockchain, will bring unprecedented levels of transparency and fairness to the otherwise opaque world of stock lending.

“The blockchain is the most important financial development of our lifetimes,” said t0.com CEO Patrick M. Byrne. “While others theorize about the innovations this new technology can usher in, t0 is taking action and proving the concept daily, including using it to crack open the notoriously inaccessible black box of securities lending. This is further evidence of the world-historical potential of distributed, cryptographically secured ledgers.”

According to Byrne, “When up and running, each Pre-borrow Assured Token will provide the purchaser a valid locate satisfying the SEC’s Regulation SHO requirements. These tokens will be auctioned nightly in a Dutch auction using t0 software and the transaction will be recorded on the blockchain. In the process, the arcane world of stock loan receives sunlight.”

Earlier this week, hedge fund Clique Fund, LP, participated in the testing to purchase locates for all 30 Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks.

“As I have said publicly ad nauseam, I have no objection in principle with short selling when done legally,” said Byrne. “Our introduction of the Pre-borrow Assured Token will solve a problem for the beneficial owners, by bringing their inventory into a transparent market; it will solve a problem for the short seller, who will be able to borrow in a transparent market; and it will solve a problem for regulators, who for several years have taken a more aggressive stance regarding this mischief than they did a decade ago, I feel obliged to acknowledge. Unfortunately, a few bad apples spoil the barrel. That barrel needs a good scrubbing, and that’s what our Pre-borrow Assured Token will do.”

Access to t0.com’s Pre-borrow Assured Tokens (PAT), when available, will be limited to qualified institutional buyers that are also qualified purchasers. This media release is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy PATs or any other securities, and there shall not be any offer to sell, solicitation of an offer to buy or sale of PATs in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom, such an offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Any offers of the PATs will be made only in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For additional information and to join the Pre-borrow Assured Token waiting list, email inquiries@t0.com.

About t0.com
t0.com is an assumed name for Medici, Inc., which is a majority-owned financial technology subsidiary of Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK). Overstock is an online shopping retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells a broad range of products at low prices including furniture, rugs, bedding, electronics, clothing, and jewelry. Overstock’s OLabs department is the emerging businesses incubator for financial services and other initiatives.

Media Contact:
Kirstie Burden, Overstock.com, Inc.
+1 (801) 947-3116
kirstie@overstock.com

Investor Contact:
Mark Harden, Overstock.com, Inc.
+1 (801) 947-5409
mharden@overstock.com

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Sprouts Farmers Market to release financial results for 3Q ended Sep 27, 2015 before the market opens on Thursday, November 5

PHOENIX, Ariz., 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFM) today announced it will issue financial results for the third quarter ended September 27, 2015 before the market opens on Thursday, November 5, 2015. Following the release, Sprouts management will conduct a conference call at 8 a.m. MST (10 a.m. EST) to discuss the results for the quarter.

A webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at http://investors.sprouts.com. Participants should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

The conference call will be available via the following dial- in numbers:

U.S. Participants: 877-398-9481
International Participants: Dial +1-408-337-0130
Conference ID: 62247023

The audio replay will remain available for 72 hours and can be accessed by dialing 855-859-2056 (toll-free) or 404- 537-3406 (international) and entering the confirmation code: 62247023.

About Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. is a healthy grocery store offering fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices. Sprouts offers a complete shopping experience that includes fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items catering to consumers’ growing interest in health and wellness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts employs more than 20,000 team members and operates more than 200 stores in 13 states from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.sprouts.com or @sproutsfm on Twitter.

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Investor Contact:
Susannah Livingston
(602) 682-1584
susannahlivingston@sprouts.com

Media Contact:
Donna Egan
(602) 682-3152
donnaegan@sprouts.com

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Artist Ismael Gudiño to personalize cups for customers of the new café of Starbucks in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

SEATTLE, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — The artist, wearing his signature black bowler hat and a green Starbucks apron, works quickly.

It starts with just a few lines in black pen in the white space of a Starbucks cup. Then the shape of the eyes emerge, a curved line becomes a nose. An expression comes to life. He adds a crown of hair and a few flourishes. Accessories provide the final touch, often a cell phone or cup of coffee. He dashes a name across the top and his signature below.

In less than two minutes, he’s finished, and he hands the Venti-sized portrait across the café table to his subject.

Recently, Starbucks invited artist Ismael Gudiño to personalize cups for customers to celebrate the new café in the Las Brisas commercial center of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The special assignment reminded him of his childhood in Argentina, when he entertained his friends by drawing cartoons of teachers and classmates. Now an accomplished abstract artist who works in a variety of mediums, he was excited for the challenge of drawing on Starbucks cups.

“It was one of my best experiences without a doubt because it’s a cup that always invites you to use it as a canvas,” he said. “When people are having fun and I draw them, the illustration process becomes natural and flows easily.”

Exactly how long does it take Gudiño to create a portrait?

“To tell the truth I kind of lost count as I was drawing nonstop, but I think I did around 25 cups per hour,” he said. “This depends on the amount of people with curly hair. With those, I take my time!”

For more information on this news release, contact the Starbucks Newsroom.

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Artist Ismael Gudiño to personalize cups for customers of the new café of Starbucks in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Carrefour Foundation launches its 3rd international food collection campaign

10 countries are getting involved – kick-off is in Taiwan on 16 October!

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In the run-up to World Food Day, the Carrefour Foundation is launching its third international food collection campaign with support from the European Food Bank Federation and The Global FoodBanking Network. Teams from some 2000 stores will be involved in the project which will run for nearly 2 months across 10 countries: Taiwan, then Romania, France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, China, Poland, Brazil and finally Belgium. Employees, customers and volunteers will all be drawing on their resources and focusing on helping the world’s poorest people. Their target will be to beat last year’s result – the equivalent of 42 million meals donated and then redistributed to local branches of Food Banks.

From Taipei to São Paulo – nearly 2000 Carrefour stores are getting involved in 10 different countries

The collection will commence in Carrefour Taiwan on World Food Day, and will run until December. Collections will then get under way in Romania on 23 November, with France, Italy, Argentina and China following suite on 27 and 28 November. The campaign will then run in Carrefour Poland from 4 to 6 December, before Carrefour Brazil on 5 December and then Carrefour Belgium from 11 to 13 December.

In stores, several hundred volunteer Carrefour employees will be working out in the field, lending their support to Food Bank workers and helping to raise customers’ awareness, as well as receiving and sorting the various products donated. The foodstuffs collected at store checkouts will then be redirected to Food Bank warehouses for redistribution to various associations set up to help people in need.

In addition to this campaign, food is being donated from stores every day – the equivalent of 89 million meals donated and then redistributed to food aid organisations throughout the world.

Carrefour has been a partner of the Food Banks every day since 1994. Indeed, alongside these collection campaigns, Carrefour also donates foodstuffs to various associations on a daily basis – fresh products in France in particular, as well as in Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, etc. The equivalent of 89 million meals was distributed in 2014 throughout the world, making Carrefour the leading private donor to Food Banks in France.

Giving effectively: logistics support and a skills sponsorship programme

The Carrefour Foundation also provides the Food Banks with logistics support: it cofinances vehicles for transporting products – including fresh goods – and cold rooms for storing them. In 2015, a donation of €209,000 contributed to the purchase of 11 vehicles and 5 cold rooms in France. Since 1994, Carrefour has funded the purchase of 215 facilities for the Food Banks throughout the world. These include153 refrigerated vehicles, 31 cold rooms and cold cabinets.

The retailer also draws on its core business, sharing its logistics expertise: Carrefour France’s Supply Chain Division works alongside teams from the Food Banks through a skills sponsorship programme. The aim is to optimise the way in which warehouses are managed and orders prepared.

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Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Amazon announced the lineup for its fall kids pilot season scheduled to debut exclusively on Amazon Video in US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan

Six animated pilots will launch from Emmy award-winning Amazon Studios, including an adaptation of the acclaimed classic book series If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Numberlys from Oscar award-winning Moonbot Studios, and Eddie of the Realms Eternal, from Emmy award-winning writing duo Bill Motz and Bob Roth
Fall pilot season debuts November 5 on Amazon Video

SEATTLE, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced the lineup for its fall kids pilot season which is scheduled to debut later this year exclusively on Amazon Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan. Amazon customers will find a slate of animated pilots, including a preschool-aged show based on the beloved book series If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and The Numberlys, a story for preschoolers that follows best friends who encourage children to think beyond the way things are always done. Animated pilots for children ages 6 to 11 include Danger & Eggs, a show that chronicles the endless adventures of fearless D.D. Danger and her ever-cautious best friend, a giant talking egg; Eddie of the Realms Eternal, a story that centers around a meek teen who balances a hero’s life while dealing with the ordinary pressures of middle school life; Everstar, a journey that follows an adventurous 12-year-old girl who accidentally intercepts an intergalactic SOS signal and is brought aboard a rogue spaceship that travels the universe; and Yoyotoki HappyEars!, a story that follows a fox whose family accidentally lands on Mytholopia and encounters its unusual citizens who stir up their lives in extraordinary ways. These pilots—along with primetime pilots Edge, Good Girls Revolt, Highston, One Mississippi, Patriot and Z—will debut November 5 on Amazon Video.

Amazon customers will once again be invited to watch and provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series for Prime members. All pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/amazonvideo.

The new kids pilots premiering later this year come from accomplished and award-winning creative talent, including William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Scarecrow), Bill Motz and Bob Roth (The Penguins of Madagascar),Mike Owens (Yo Gabba Gabba!), Shadi Petosky (Mad), John Rogers (The Player, The Librarians), Ken Scarborough (Arthur, Doug), and Niki Yang (Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors).

“Our new kids pilots will combine rich worlds with unique characters that we hope will appeal to our customers,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios. “We’re delighted to debut these animated projects from such esteemed and remarkable creative talent.”

Amazon’s fall pilot season includes the following kids shows:

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (for preschool-aged children)

When you give a mouse a cookie, he’ll probably ask for a glass of milk, and then…who knows what he’ll ask for next? If You Give a Mouse a Cookie follows the adventures of Mouse, Oliver and other familiar friends as they discover that when you’ve got a curious Mouse for a friend (not to mention a Moose, a Pig, a Cat and a Dog), one thing always leads to another, then another, and then another! You never know what to expect, but you do know it’s going to be fun—and maybe a little bit messy. Much like the books, the story will start in one place and lead to unexpectedly delightful twists and turns until we are back at home where we started. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is based on the beloved books by Laura Numeroff (Dennis the Menace) and Felicia Bond and written and developed by Emmy Award-winning writer Ken Scarborough(Arthur, Doug).

The Numberlys (for preschool-aged children)

Based on the award-winning book, short film, and app, The Numberlys are five best friends who discover something they’ve never seen before—a tiny sprout in their concrete and metal city. Though they don’t know what it is, they decide to protect this unique little thing against all obstacles. Through invention, stumbles and bumbles, they help the sprout become a beautiful tree, making a lasting, joyful change in their world. Created by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg of Oscar Award-winning Moonbot Studios (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Silent, Scarecrow), executive produced by Lampton Enochs (Super), written by Emmy Award winner Joe Fallon (Between the Lions, Arthur), and directed by Saul Blinkoff (Doc McStuffins, Kronk’s New Groove), The Numberlys encourages children to think beyond the way things are always done and to imagine the way things could be in their world.

Danger & Eggs (for children ages 6-11; animated)

Danger & Eggs follows the endless adventures of fearless D.D. Danger and her ever-cautious best friend, a giant, talking egg named Phillip. D.D., an energetic future stuntwoman, is always chasing her next big thrill. Lucky for her, Phillip is always there with jerry-rigged safety mechanisms to more responsibly–and sometimes absurdly–make her thrill seeking dreams come true. Danger & Eggs is created by Mike Owens (Yo Gabba Gabba!) and Shadi Petosky (Mad), produced by Petosky and Chris Hardwick’s Puny Entertainment (Yo Gabba Gabba!), and features the voice talents of comedians Aidy Bryant and Eric Knobel (Saturday Night Live).

Eddie of the Realms Eternal (for children ages 6-11; animated)

When lazy, unfocused wizard elf Hobi is faced with the return of the evil Shadow Queen to the Realms Eternal, he summons the greatest hero in all of the planes of reality, “Edward Armstrong.” Unexpectedly, Hobi gets a meek teen named Eddie who, much like him, has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. Together, Eddie and Hobi must work together to banish the Shadow Queen from the Realms for eternity while Eddie balances a hero’s life with the ordinary pressures of middle school life. Eddie of the Realms Eternal is created by Emmy Award-winning writers Bill Motz and Bob Roth (The Penguins of Madagascar) and animated by Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea).

Everstar (for children ages 6-11; animated)

When adventurous 12-year-old Ainslie Wickett accidentally intercepts an intergalactic SOS signal from a lighthouse in Maine, she and her best friend George are brought aboard a rogue spaceship called the Everstar. After defending the ship from pirates, they embark on a journey across the universe where she and her crew encounter aliens, uncover the mysteries of the Everstar and search for a way back home. Everstar is created by Becky Tinker and executive produced by John Rogers (The Player, The Librarians) and Jennifer Court.

Yoyotoki HappyEars! (for children ages 6-11; animated)

When Yoyotoki HappyEars and her fox family accidentally land on Mytholopia, they find themselves in a land where mythical creatures rule and magic is the norm. Although they try to keep their lives as normal as possible (and their jellybean pot pie business up and running), the unusual citizens of Mytholopia stir up their lives in extraordinary ways. Together with her buddies Steak and Hotwings, Yoyotoki discovers the magic in just being herself—and learns the hard way that you should never trust a Medusa snake to give you directions. Yoyotoki HappyEars!is created by Niki Yang (Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors).

About Amazon Video
Amazon Video includes tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes available on Prime Video at no additional charge to Prime members, as well as access to hundreds of thousands of titles to buy or rent. Amazon Video is the only service in the world that brings customers both of these options in one place.

Prime Video, available on Amazon Video, lets Prime members enjoy binge-worthy TV shows including Amazon Original Series airing now such as the multi-Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-winning series Transparent, Red Oaks, Hand of God, Bosch, Catastrophe and Mozart in the Jungle as well as hit series like Sex and the City, Veep, Girls, The Sopranos, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Wire. Prime Video also offers members blockbuster movies such as Transformers: Age of Extinction, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Star Trek Into Darkness and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, among others. Prime members have access to a collection of kids shows including Amazon Original Series Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, the Annecy, Annie and multi-Emmy Award-winning Tumble Leaf, and Wishenpoof, as well as popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, and Blue’s Clues.

Prime members can look forward to several upcoming original series premiering this year, with the second season of Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street premiering on October 30, followed by the much anticipated adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castlepremiering on November 20, and season two of Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Transparent December 4. Coming in 2016 will be the second seasons of Mozart in the Jungle, Bosch and romantic comedy Catastrophe, along with the debut season of The New Yorker Presents.

In addition to tens of thousands of titles to instantly stream on Prime Video, the Amazon Prime membership (www.amazon.com/prime) includes more than one million songs, more than a thousand playlists and hundreds of stations through Prime Music, unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, early access to select Lightning Deals, unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos, and access to borrow from more than 800,000 books for Kindle owners–all for $99 a year.

Amazon Video can be accessed through the Amazon Video app on TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/amazonvideo. Prime Video titles can also be downloaded for offline enjoyment—the only subscription streaming service to offer this functionality. Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at Amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline: 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Multi-GRAMMY award and Billboard award-winning band Train will bring their first-ever holiday album exclusively to Amazon Prime members in U.S. and U.K.

The highly-anticipated album Christmas in Tahoe is available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon starting today—releasing on November 13
The album will include original holiday songs and covers of holiday classics such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Merry Christmas Everybody”

SEATTLE, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ:AMZN)—‘Tis the season. Amazon today announced that the multi-GRAMMY award and Billboard award-winning band Train will bring their first-ever holiday album exclusively to Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and U.K. to stream ad-free on Prime Music, at no additional cost to their membership. The highly-anticipated album, Christmas in Tahoe, features 15 holiday-inspired tracks and will be available for digital download exclusively on Amazon; the physical CD’s deluxe version with all 15 songs will also only be available on Amazon. Customers can pre-order the album in digital or physical format starting today, and listen to every song when it releases on November 13. To pre-order visit http://amzn.to/1MAX7PD.

Train, which has had 13 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 list since the release of their debut self-titled album, has put their signature sound and spin on holiday classics such as Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means To Me.” Newly recorded versions of Elvis Presley’s “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me),” John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and the Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written by Robert Alex Anderson, “Mele Kalikimaka,” are tracks that can only be found on Amazon. The album also includes original holiday music sure to become holiday favorites, including the sunny disposition of “Christmas Island,” the melancholy yearning and country shuffle of “Wait For Mary Christmas,” and the rhythmic wordplay of “Shake Up Christmas.”

“Our focus is on bringing great music to our customers, and with distinct vocals, a unique sound and a long history of chart-topping hits, there is no doubt customers will love the first-ever holiday album from Train,” stated Steve Boom, VP of Digital Music for Amazon. “We’re excited to bring the GRAMMY award-winning band’s holiday inspired album exclusively to Prime Music—we know that Prime members are going to enjoy unlimited listening throughout the holiday season.”

“Christmas in Tahoe has been a part of Train’s journey that’s been in the making for quite some time,” said Pat Monahan, lead vocalist of Train. “We couldn’t be more excited that Amazon presented us with the opportunity to share the album with millions of Amazon Prime members, and joined us in an amazing relationship to continue to positively change the way people hear new and current music.”

Prime members will be able to listen to Christmas in Tahoe on Prime Music through the Amazon Music app on iOS, Android, Fire devices, Amazon Echo, or on the Web at www.primemusic.com, starting on November 13. Prime members can also download tracks off the album for anytime, anywhere listening. Prime Music is included in the Prime membership for $99/year.

Most recently Bulletproof Picasso—the band’s 7^th studio album—debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 upon its September 16, 2014debut and earned rave reviews. Train’s climb to the top began in San Francisco in 1994, as the original 5-member band tenaciously built a loyal following, leading up to their own self-titled debut album, released by Columbia in 1998. The tumbling wordplay of “Meet Virginia” gave them their first unlikely radio hit, with 2001’s Drops Of Jupiter garnering multi-platinum status thanks to the double-GRAMMY award-winning title song that spent 10 months in the Top 40, and snaring the Best Rock Song GRAMMY award by beating out Coldplay and two U2 songs.

The group won another GRAMMY award in 2011 for their global hit “Hey, Soul Sister,” the #1 best-selling smash and most downloaded single of 2010, from their multi-platinum album Save Me, San Francisco. Next was 2012’s California 37, which launched the hit “Drive By,” reaching the Top 10 in 13 countries. They’ve sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, more than 30 million tracks, with multiple platinum/gold citations, including 3 GRAMMY awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards and dozens of other honors. Additionally, Train’s award-winning Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. has recently released their 6th varietal, ‘Bulletproof Picasso’ sauvignon blanc. Proceeds from the wine support Family House, a San Francisco charity that supports families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

The full track listing for Train’s Christmas in Tahoe album:

“This Christmas”
“Christmas Must Be Tonight”
“The River”
“Christmas Island”
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
“Merry Christmas Everybody”
“Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me)”
“What Christmas Means To Me”
“Wait For Mary, Christmas”
“Holy Night”
“Shake Up Christmas”
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
“2000 Miles”
“Tinsel and Lights”
“Mele Kalikimaka”

To celebrate the release of Christmas in Tahoe, Train fans can enter for a chance to win the ukulele used by the band on tour and in the “Hey, Soul Sister” video, autographed by the entire band. To enter, follow @amazonmusic on Twitter at https://twitter.com/amazonmusic and retweet the ukulele #Sweepstakes post when it goes live on 10/16/15 at 9am PST/12pm EST. Sweepstakes ends on 10/19/15 at 5pm PST/8pm EST. Amazon Music will direct message the winner on Twitter with instructions regarding how to claim prize. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, prize ARV $249.99. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/1Qt8gRT

About Amazon Music
Prime members in the U.S. and U.K. can listen to more than one million songs, over a thousand Prime Playlists and Prime Stations available ad-free on Prime Music. Prime Music can be accessed through the Amazon Music app on Fire devices, Amazon Echo, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, laptops or online at www.primemusic.com, with tracks available to download for anytime, anywhere listening. Eligible customers who are not already Prime members can try Prime Music with a 30-day free trial by visiting www.amazon.com/prime.

Prime members and customers also have access to tens of millions of tracks to purchase and download in MP3 format in the Amazon Music store at www.amazon.com/digitalmusic and can enjoy exclusive performances and artists interviews by visiting Amazon Front Rowat www.amazon.com/frontrow.

More to Prime

Amazon Prime is an annual membership program for $99 a year that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 20 million items across all categories, unlimited Free Same-Day Delivery on more than a million items in 14 metro areas, unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, more than one million songs, more than one thousand playlists and hundreds of stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos and access to more than 800,000 books to borrow with the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. In addition, Prime members in select cities receive one and two hour delivery through Prime Now on tens of thousands of items through a mobile app. Not a member? Start a free trial of Amazon Prime at amazon.com/prime.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Amazon: Myriam Millán with her title La Hija del Dragón won the Second Indie Literary Contest for Spanish-language authors

More than 1,200 authors from 37 countries participated using Kindle Direct Publishing

La Hija del Dragón, by Myriam Millán, from Sevilla, Spain, will have the opportunity to be published globally in print by La Esfera de los Libros, in audio by Audible and translated into English and published globally by AmazonCrossing in digital, print and audio formats

SEATTLE, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Amazon today announced that Myriam Millán, with her title La Hija del Dragón—a fast-paced fictional thriller that captivates the reader with a treacherous plot involving an ancient cult’s search for eternal life that could be behind modern-day murders—has won the Second Indie Literary Contest for Spanish-language authors worldwide. From July 1, 2015 to August 31, 2015, more than 1,200 authors from 37 countries entered the contest by uploading their titles to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform (https://kdp.amazon.com). The top countries participating were Spain, Mexico, Venezuela and the U.S. To be eligible for the contest, the stories had to be original, unpublished works in Spanish, and exclusive to Kindle through enrollment in KDP Select. After selecting five finalists, submissions were carefully reviewed by a panel of judges to determine the winning title.

La Hija del Dragón combines the legend of Erzsébet Báthory, a 17^th century Hungarian noble known as “The Blood Countess” alleged to have tortured and killed hundreds of women, and a fictional modern-day investigation into brutal crimes in England. It is the result of four years of research and work by author Myriam Millán, who based her title on complex documentation to create this stunning thriller.

“When I found out that I had won, I remembered the moments when I seemed incapable of writing this book, just as it seemed unthinkable that I would finish it and win the contest,” said Millán. “With La Hija del Dragón, I’ve learned that you should never stop fighting for what you want, because there are times when dreams, as impossible as they may seem, come true.”

“We’ve been thrilled to see how many Spanish-language authors from around the world submitted their books for consideration, and we’re honored to have the opportunity to introduce even more readers to Myriam Millán by publishing La Hija del Dragón in print and translating her work into English,” said Charles Kronbach, Director, Kindle Direct Publishing.

Ambassador for the contest and best-selling author Ismael Cala said, “We now have a winner, four finalists and over a thousand authors that have decided to march and conquer their dreams. I congratulate them all, because they have shown what they want. This contest promoted by Amazon has shone a light on the big literary talent of the Spanish-speaking world and its unlimited possibilities.”

La Hija del Dragón will have the opportunity to be published in print by La Esfera de los Libros, in audio by Audible and translated into English and published in digital, print and audio formats by AmazonCrossing, the Amazon Publishing imprint for world literature in translation. Complete information on the contest, participating titles and terms and conditions can be found at: www.amazon.com/concursoindie.

“Literary creativity is an indispensable part of our cultural heritage,” said Ymelda Navajo, Director at La Esfera de Los Libros. “Thanks to initiatives like this we discover new talent that, from now on, we will help reach thousands of readers worldwide.”

KDP is a free and seamless way for writers and publishers to make their eBooks available to Kindle readers around the world and each week on average, about 45 titles of the top 100 Spanish-language eBooks sold globally on Amazon are published via KDP. All novels entered in the contest are available in full in the Kindle Store and can be read on the Kindle and Fire family of devices, on the free Kindle reading app for iOS, Android and more, or on any web browser compatible with Kindle Cloud Reader.

About Ismael Cala
A celebrated figure in the Latin community, Ismael Cala is a journalist, author and motivational speaker who is the face of one of the top-rated shows in Latin programming. CALA on CNN en Español is an intimate program in which Cala invites domestic and international viewers to be part of his conversations with politicians, authors, philosophers, artists, celebrities, and other notable international figures. He is the author of the best-selling titles El poder de escuchar and Un buen hijo de P. For more information, visit http://ismaelcala.com.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Macy’s introduces line of slim-fit suits from Dutch label OppoSuits

The young Dutch menswear brand, known for its graphic and colorful suits, will be carried in Macy’s stores nationwide and on Macys.com

NEW YORK, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Macy’s (NYSE:M) is encouraging men to have fun with their fashion, introducing a line of slim-fit suits from Dutch label, OppoSuits. The unique suits are brightly colored and boast cheeky, eye-catching prints, providing the perfect option for men who want to show off their fun personalities in a distinctively stylish way.

The suits are sold as a three-piece set, with matching jacket, pants and tie for $99.99. OppoSuits bridge the gap between value, quality and style, offering men a modern, slim-cut suit at an affordable price. What’s more, the striking prints and colors allow wearers to brazenly stand out from the crowd while looking polished.

“Macy’s is always looking for new ways to surprise and delight our customers by providing them the newest and most innovative trends out there,” said Durand Guion, Macy’s vice president and fashion director. “OppoSuits is a vibrant, young brand with a unique point-of-view at an incredible price. We’re excited to introduce our shoppers to a new approach to holiday style which we’re sure they’ll love.”

Originating in Holland, the three-year-old brand quickly made major waves throughout Europe, being sold in high end retailers and specialty boutiques all over the continent. In August, Macy’s was among the first retailers to bring OppoSuits to North America, offering several of their styles on macys.com. Macy’s will expand its offering in mid-October with six additional styles for the holidays, available in 310 stores and online.

The six cheerful holiday styles sport graphic prints of snowflakes, pine trees, snowmen, plaid, reindeer and fair isle, all impeccably rendered with expert tailoring. These suits are the perfect ensemble for the festive celebrations that occur throughout the season. OppoSuits are also highly giftable, sold pre-packaged in an attractive box. Whether given as a gift or worn to one of many holiday soirees, Macy’s is happy to spread joy in suit form with the gleeful collection from OppoSuits.

About Macy’s
Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 775 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy’s offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy’s flagship stores — including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California — are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $69 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

For Macy’s media materials, including images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at macys.com/pressroom.

About OppoSuits
OppoSuits is a global menswear apparel brand that was launched by three young entrepreneurs in 2012. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, OppoSuits has quickly grown to a multi-million dollar company servicing both consumers and retailers in more than 50 countries around the world. Renowned for designing colorful yet stylish suits, OppoSuits expanded their collection to over forty styles including holiday themed patterns. OppoSuits has grown to a large team of people working in six different countries with, distribution centers in the United States,United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Canada.

Source: Macy’s

Macy’s Media Relations
Julie Strider Fukami, 646-429-5213
julie.strider@macys.com
or
Macy’s Media Relations
Billy Dume, 646-429-7449
billy.dume@macys.com

###

Macy’s is embracing a new approach to holiday style with slim-fit suits from Dutch label, OppoSuits, available in stores and at macys.com, $99.99. (Photo: Business Wire)

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

eBay and Argos to make it easier and more convenient for sellers on eBay to offer unique fulfilment services

Milton Keynes, UK, 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — eBay and Argos today announce that they have signed a wider multi-year partnership making it easier and more convenient for both business and consumer sellers on eBay to offer unique fulfilment services. The partnership spans collection and drop-off at Argos stores and delivery within 48 hours.

Drop-off and delivery

Under the partnership, eBay will for the first time roll-out a national parcel drop-off service, enabling eBay consumer sellers in the UK to drop-off their sold items at Argos stores nationwide. The service will commence with 150 stores before the end of 2015, with more stores to follow in the coming year.

Under the new service, items packaged and dropped off in Argos stores by consumer sellers will be despatched to eBay buyers. The drop-off and delivery service was successfully piloted earlier this year in ten Argos stores across four towns, and is both cheaper and more convenient* than comparable services.

Click & Collect

Additionally, Argos and eBay have extended their ongoing commitment to their Click & Collect programme, an exclusive partnership which began as a small pilot in late 2013. Since inception the parties have helped customers collect more than three million parcels, from around 800 UK and Northern Ireland Argos stores, sold on behalf of 200,000 businesses selling on eBay.

Tanya Lawler, UK Vice President, eBay, said: “In 1995, eBay disrupted shopping by creating a commerce platform powered by customers. Our continued success is all about listening and responding to customers’ needs – and we know that they expect ever more convenience, choice and value. Our ambition with this deal is to grow and establish some of the most exciting and innovative fulfilment services in the UK. The eBay and Argos partnership further dissolves the lines between digital and traditional retail.”

David Robinson, Chief Operating Officer, Argos, said: “Argos invented click and collect in the UK, and recently added to its record of innovation by introducing FastTrack Collection and FastTrack Delivery – market leading fulfilment services for the online shopper. The ability for customers to get their purchases quickly, easily and locally has become the new retail battleground. With over 800 stores and a friendly face on every high street, we are ideally placed to attract eBay’s business and consumer customers to use our unique store network. This deal reaffirms and builds on the successful and deepening relationship between our businesses.”

– Ends –

Notes to editors

* Based on the combination of service (delivery), price (cost to customer) & convenience (physical locations) compared to competitor offerings in the UK

Argos is a leading UK digital retailer, offering around 50,000 products through www.argos.co.uk , its growing mobile channels, stores and over the telephone.

Argos continues to be the UK’s largest high street retailer online with around 121m customer transactions a year through its stores and over 900 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February 2015. Customers can take advantage of Argos’ convenient Check & Reserve service available through its network of 800 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

In the financial year to February 2015, Argos sales were £4.1 billion and it employed some 29,000 people across the business.

eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) is the world’s most vibrant marketplace for discovering great value and unique selection. eBay connects millions of buyers and sellers around the globe, empowering people and creating opportunity through Connected Commerce. Our vision for commerce is one that is enabled by people, powered by technology and open to everyone. We focus on empowering our sellers, not competing with them, and we create stronger connections between buyers and sellers with product experiences that are fast, mobile and secure. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re just as passionate today about connecting buyers and sellers as when we founded the company in 1995. For more information, visit ebayinc.com.

– See more at: http://homeretailgroup.pressarea.com/pressrelease/details/73/News_1/5158#sthash.pVGAEmnv.dpuf

Posted on October 17, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Iris by Lowe’s Smart Home Survey: Home improvement stores rated the No. 1 place Americans are most likely to buy

MOORESVILLE, N.C., 2015-10-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today, Iris by Lowe’s released the results of its annual Smart Home Survey, revealing that when it comes to shopping for smart home products, home improvement stores (either in-store or online) were rated the No. 1 place Americans are most likely to buy. When asked why they would choose a home improvement store, most say it’s because it is a retailer they can trust (55 percent) that has knowledgeable staff (40 percent) and a variety of available products (48 percent).

The 2015 Smart Home Survey, conducted online in August by Harris Poll on behalf of Iris, Lowe’s Smart Home Business Unit, polled more than 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18+ and examined Americans’ attitudes toward and experiences with smart home products, homing in on the driving factors behind their purchasing and use preferences. Results from this year’s study indicate that when it comes to purchasing considerations, cost of equipment and monthly fees as a deciding factor has decreased (down from 56 percent in 2014), though it’s still the most commonly cited (43 percent). Ease of use is the second most important deciding factor (19 percent, up from 13 percent in 2014), followed by energy and efficiency features (15 percent) such as home temperature control and automated lighting. Two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans report they plan to purchase smart home products someday, with 17 percent planning to do so within the next year.

“We constantly aim to further understand the ways in which people evolve right along with smart homes. This year’s results show us the cost of smart home products is becoming less of a roadblock for consumers than in the past, and they are more inclined to purchase from retailers they can trust,” said Mick Koster, vice president and general manager of Iris Home Systems. “Insight around consumers’ attitudes toward home automation supports our year-round efforts to deliver better value with Iris and ultimately offer the best possible technology and products to help homeowners love where they live.”

Additional key findings:

Consumer Shopping Habits:

Among Americans who plan to buy any smart home products in the next 12 months, security cameras are the No. 1 smart home product they plan to buy (56 percent).
Very few Americans (5 percent) consider professional home monitoring to be the most important factor in deciding whether to purchase smart home products.
Parents with children under the age of 18 in their home are nearly three times as likely to purchase smart home products in the next year as those without – 31 percent vs. 11 percent, respectively.

Comfort and Confusion around Home Automation

More than 3 in 5 Americans claim security is the top beneficial reason to own smart home products (62 percent), with Millennials ages 18-34 (71 percent) and women (66 percent) being the most likely groups to indicate this need.
Close to half (48 percent) say smart home products would help cut costs and save money on energy bills, and nearly 37 percent say smart home products would make their home more convenient overall.

More than 43 percent of Americans are comfortable with what smart home technology does for them, but less than one-third (31 percent) are happy with the pace at which smart home technology is evolving.
Surprisingly, Millennials ages 18-34 (38 percent) are more confused about installation of smart home products than any other age group.

IoT Battle of the Sexes:

Upon arriving home, men want the house to be at the perfect temperature (56 percent), lights turned on (44 percent) and doors unlocked (38 percent), while women prefer dinner would start cooking (26 percent).
Women are more likely than men (42 percent vs. 26 percent) to cite retailer loyalty, as the main reason they’d be most likely to buy their smart home products at home improvement stores.
Among those who plan to buy smart home products in the next 12 months:
- Most women want to add security cameras (61 percent) and motion sensor (62 percent) products to their home.
- Most men want to add lighting (56 percent).

Cross-Country Breakdown:

Southerners (66 percent) are more likely than those in the Midwest (59 percent) to purchase smart home products for security benefits.
Over half (54 percent) of smart device owners living in the Northeast wish they could adjust the thermostat from bed, while over one-third (37 percent) would want to be able to start the coffee pot.

An infographic depicting the results of the survey can be downloaded here:http://bit.ly/1Ge8cF9.

Lowe’s was the first company to target the mass consumer market with a broad home automation solution in Iris and the first to introduce a truly open platform – allowing devices across its stores to connect with one another. Iris by Lowe’s offers a wide variety of connected devices from well-known brands, a simple user experience, value-priced products, an easy DIY system setup, free service from the day of installation, customizable rules to connect devices and more. Iris by Lowe’s was developed and designed for the consumer, using nearly 70 years of home improvement experience and input from its 15 million shoppers a week.

For the complete list of products available for Iris, please visit IrisbyLowes.com.

Methodology
The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Lowe’s between Aug. 19-21, 2015 among 2,024 adults ages 18+, among which 912 are men, 1,112 are women, 1,573 are smartphone/tablet owners, and 267 would most likely purchase smart home products from home improvement. The 2014 survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Lowe’s between July 10-14, 2014 among 2,088 U.S. adults. Results were weighted for age within gender, region, race/ethnicity, income, and education where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

About Lowe’s
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customers a week in the United States, Canada andMexico through its stores and online at Lowes.com, Lowes.ca and Lowes.com.mx. With fiscal year 2014 sales of $56.2 billion, Lowe’s has more than 1,845 home improvement and hardware stores and 265,000 employees. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

About The Harris Poll
Over the last 5 decades, Harris Polls have become media staples. With comprehensive experience and precise technique in public opinion polling, along with a proven track record of uncovering consumers’ motivations and behaviors, The Harris Poll has gained strong brand recognition around the world. The Harris Poll offers a diverse portfolio of proprietary client solutions to transform relevant insights into actionable foresight for a wide range of industries including health care, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer packaged goods. Contact us for more information.

SOURCE: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.