Memphis City Council members approved the use of Tourism Development Zone revenues Tuesday, Aug. 28, to finance the construction of a second convention center hotel as they delayed any decisions on long-term crowd control and safety measures in the Beale Street entertainment district.

2. How Apple's App Store Changed Our World - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A decade ago, Apple opened a store peddling iPhone apps, unlocking the creativity of software developers and letting users truly make their mobile devices their own.

3. High Court: Online shoppers can be forced to pay sales tax - Friday, June 22, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — States will be able to force more shoppers to pay sales tax when they make online purchases under a Supreme Court decision Thursday that will leave shoppers with lighter wallets but is a big financial win for states.

4. Are sugar worries weighing on Frappuccino sales? - Thursday, June 21, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Frappuccino sales are struggling, and concerns about how much sugar the slushy drinks contain may be among the reasons.

Starbucks says sales from the drinks that mix coffee, ice, syrup and milk are down 3 percent from a year ago, and is blaming the "health and wellness" trend for the dip.

5. Need an Entry-Level Job at a Store? It Can Be Harder Now - Friday, June 1, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Asia Thomas knew she was at a disadvantage. It had been 16 years since she quit a job at McDonald's to raise her kids. When she left, restaurants didn't have kiosks to take orders, people didn't use smartphones to pay, and job seekers did applications on paper.

6. Walmart Unveils Lord & Taylor Site as it Tries to Go Upscale - Thursday, May 17, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart, long known for its "everyday low prices" mantra and as a place for basics, wants shoppers to think of it as a source for style and upscale fashion as it tries to reach more affluent customers.

7. Editorial: Buying Food in a Food City - Saturday, May 12, 2018

The business of food is in a cycle of change from farm to table – whether it’s blowing up the Memphis barbecue stereotype or how we get our groceries.

All parts of that chain are to be found in Memphis business and culture.

8. No Easy Path Forward for Fred’s - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Memphis-based discount retailer Fred’s Inc. operates 584 company-owned stores that each stock more than 14,000 items and saw average sales of more than $3 million in 2017.

That’s one picture of the company, laid out in Fred’s just-released annual report. Another picture, though, can be found in Fred’s dismal financial performance of late – and in the fact that Wall Street has basically lost faith in the company’s prospects, which led to the price of Fred’s shares sinking 60 percent since January.

9. Buying Local - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Don’t be surprised this weekend to come across customers at Burke’s Book Store posing in front of a “selfie station,” taking pictures of themselves at the 143-year-old Midtown institution to post and share with their friends.

10. States, Cities Sue US Over Census Citizenship Question - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Seventeen states, the District of Columbia and six cities sued the U.S. government Tuesday, saying the addition of a citizenship question to the census form is unconstitutional.

11. Geofencing is Gaining Ground - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

While marketers anticipate that e-commerce will continue to push retail boundaries throughout 2018, mobile commerce is a large factor in that boundary movement, widely due to advanced interest in geofencing.

12. Decision to Add Citizenship Question to Census Draws Protest - Wednesday, March 28, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The 2020 U.S. Census will add a question about citizenship status, a move that brought swift condemnation from Democrats who said it would intimidate immigrants and discourage them from participating.

13. At Home Sells Winchester Property for $10 Million - Saturday, February 17, 2018

A Phoenix, Arizona-based real estate investment trust has paid $10 million for the big-box space in Southeast Memphis’ Centennial Place shopping center leased to home furnishings retailer At Home.

14. 100 N. Main Owners Buy Additional Property - Monday, February 19, 2018

80, 86, 88 N. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103: Less than a month after the 100 North Main Building was effectively reclaimed by the lender at a foreclosure auction, New York-based real estate firm Townhouse Management Co. affiliate THM Memphis Acquisitions LLC has purchased adjacent parcels.

15. At Home Sells Winchester Property for $10 Million - Tuesday, February 13, 2018

A Phoenix, Arizona-based real estate investment trust has paid $10 million for the big-box space in Southeast Memphis’ Centennial Place shopping center leased to home furnishings retailer At Home.

16. Memphis, By Design - Thursday, January 25, 2018

For local fashion designer Xavier Winston, getting out of Binghampton was always his motivation growing up, but today he proudly represents the community as a successful entrepreneur and evidence of what you can accomplish with dedication and hard work.

17. Last Word: Soccer Returns, Confederate Reprisals and Megasite Politics - Tuesday, January 9, 2018

So much going on off the field and on parts of the field in Atlanta Monday evening as Alabama beat Georgia – a clothesline, a punch thrown on the field and an attempt to throw another punch on the sidelines at an Alabama coach and all of that from a single Alabama player. So a lot of speculation after the College Football Playoff National Championship about how that will be resolved. Alabama over Georgia 26-23 in overtime.

18. US Employers Add Modest 148,000 Jobs; Unemployment 4.1 Pct. - Monday, January 8, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December, a modest gain but still enough to suggest that the economy entered the new year with solid momentum.

The unemployment rate remained 4.1 percent for a third straight month, the lowest level since 2000, the Labor Department said Friday.

19. Smart Homes: Not Just for Tech Geeks Anymore - Tuesday, January 2, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Internet-connected lights, locks and laundry machines are close to becoming everyday household items, thanks in part to voice-activated speakers such as Amazon's Echo and Google Home.

20. Events - Saturday, December 2, 2017

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend races take place Saturday, Dec. 2, starting at Second Street and Monroe Avenue. Race registration is closed, but spectators are welcome to bring signs and cheer for runners. Some streets will be closed or have limited traffic access during the race. Visit stjudemarathon.org for a street closure list and other details.

21. Small Retailers Aim for Emotional Ties Big Chains May Lack - Monday, November 27, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Some smaller retailers will tug at shoppers' heartstrings during the holidays, trying to create an emotional experience or connection that a big national chain might not provide.

22. Week Ahead: Nov. 20-26 - Monday, November 20, 2017

Good morning, Memphis, and congrats to the University of Memphis Tigers on clinching the AAC West Division championship! The holiday season “officially” arrives with Thanksgiving this week, and there’s no shortage of reasons to get out of the house. From tree lightings to post-holiday hikes and much more, we’ve got you covered in The Week Ahead…

23. Tesla Wants to Electrify Big Trucks, Adding to Its Ambitions - Monday, November 20, 2017

DETROIT (AP) – After more than a decade of making cars and SUVs – and, more recently, solar panels – Tesla Inc. wants to electrify a new type of vehicle: big trucks.

24. Judge Allows Arkansas Grocery Stores to Expand Wine Options - Thursday, November 16, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A federal judge has given approval to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to start issuing wine permits for grocery stores.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that grocery and convenience stores that were limited to selling only small-batch farm wines will now be able to expand their selections to include all wine varieties as early as Thursday. Only liquor stores had been authorized to sell all wine varieties in the state.

25. Last Word: Fairgrounds Surprises, Aquarium Reprise and Six Open Commission Seats - Tuesday, November 7, 2017

There are lots of renderings and blueprints floating around this city of ours these days. Land opening up, locations changing, possibilities revealed, new uses for old places and old places giving way to new. So it’s not surprising to see some smaller changes that are nevertheless highly visible. Thus comes word with the new week that Spin City, the corner tenant at Poplar and Highland in Poplar Plaza, will close with the new year and Spaghetti Warehouse, on Huling Downtown, will close later this month in the week before Thanksgiving.

26. Memphis Flexes Its Strengths In Improving Real Estate Market - Tuesday, November 7, 2017

The evolution of e-commerce and its transformative effects on the real estate market are not just limited to the retail sector, and while many trends and topics were discussed at The Daily News’ annual Commercial Real Estate Review & Forecast Seminar on Nov. 2, this was one of the overarching themes.

27. Sales of iPhone X Begin: Can Apple Live Up to the Hype? - Monday, November 6, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Apple's iPhone X went on sale Friday, as the company scrambles to meet demand for a marquee device that sports a lush screen, facial-recognition skills and a $1,000 price tag .

28. The Ties That Bind - Saturday, October 21, 2017

When Big River Crossing was about to open a year ago, Doug Carpenter was asked often where the Tennessee-Arkansas state line is over the Mississippi River.

His marketing firm DCA has overseen publicity for the crossing from concept through construction, so he has learned much about the history of the Harahan Bridge and the mighty river below it. But the stateline wasn't marked

29. Fairgrounds Proposal Coming Into Focus - Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Aaron Shafer saw the writing on the wall, so to speak, at the second public gathering toward a redevelopment plan for the Fairgrounds last week.

30. Krispy Kreme Marks Eclipse With Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts - Friday, August 11, 2017

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) – Krispy Kreme is going dark ahead of the solar eclipse set to cast a shadow across part of the U.S. this month.

The doughnut chain is giving its signature glazed treats a chocolate sheen for the first time ever in honor of the Aug. 21 eclipse, where the moon will pass in front of the sun.

31. Fully Loaded - Saturday, July 29, 2017

It’s almost like the first half of 2017 was a decade in the making, at least when it comes to commercial real estate. Throughout all four major sectors of the Memphis-area commercial real estate market – industrial, office, retail and multifamily – figures are consistently reaching or exceeding pre-recession marks.

32. Tyson Recalls Nearly 2.5M Pounds of Chicken Products - Tuesday, June 13, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Tyson Foods is recalling nearly 2.5 million pounds (1.1 million kilograms) of ready-to-eat breaded chicken due to an unlabeled allergen.

The company, based in Springdale, Arkansas, says the recall was made after it was notified June 6 by a supplier that the bread crumbs Tyson received could contain milk.

33. Bebe Expects to Close All its Stores by the End of May - Monday, April 24, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Clothing chain Bebe says it expects to close all its stores by the end of May, making it the latest retail casualty of the migration to online shopping.

The Brisbane, California-based chain had said earlier this month it would close 21 stores and "explore options" for the remaining locations. In a regulatory filing, it said it expects to recognize an impairment charge of about $20 million as a result of the closing of all its stores. The chain had recently said it had more than 130 retail stores and more than 30 outlet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It also offers branded products elsewhere and operates bebe.com.

34. Sears, Once a Stalwart, Has ‘Substantial Doubt’ About Future - Thursday, March 23, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Sears, a back-to-school shopping destination for generations of kids and the place newlyweds went to choose appliances, has said that after years of losing money that there is "substantial doubt" it will be able to keep its doors open.

35. McDonald's Lays Out Plan It Hopes Can Reverse Drop in Visits - Thursday, March 2, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – McDonald's acknowledged on Wednesday that it lost 500 million customer transactions in the U.S. since 2012 and laid out its plans to get more people back into its restaurants – including by letting them order and pay on their mobile phones by the end of the year.

36. Retail Group: Sales to Grow 3.7 Percent to 4.2 Percent - Thursday, February 9, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Despite a bumpy holiday season, chains like The Limited shutting down and department stores such as Macy's closing stores, the largest retail trade group says it's still optimistic that sales will grow this year – especially online.

37. Holiday Spending Rises But Department Stores Lag - Saturday, January 14, 2017

Holiday spending got a boost in 2016, according to one analysis, as more people opted to shop by phone or computer – though department stores and clothing retailers still lagged.

Overall consumer spending grew 4.7 percent over last holiday season, while online retail purchasing grew 12 percent over the same period last year, according to First Data, which analyzed online and in-store payments for nearly a million merchants between Oct. 29 and Jan. 2.

38. Last Word: Opening Day in Nashville, Parking Pass or Parking Space and Ell Persons - Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Lots of formalities Tuesday in Nashville where the 2017 session of the Tennessee Legislature begins. And that’s what this first week back will be about on the floors of the state House and the state Senate. Away from the floors, the real business of speculation and vote counting and drafting language is already well underway.

39. Online Shoppers Help Holiday Spending; Department Stores Lag - Tuesday, January 10, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Holiday spending got a boost in 2016, according to one analysis, as more people opted to shop by phone or computer – though department stores and clothing retailers still lagged.

40. Reactionaries, Evidence Vie on Medicinal Pot - Thursday, January 5, 2017

Three-year-old Josie Mae Mathis of Greene County used to suffer hundreds of seizures daily from epilepsy and infantile spasms. Aden Vogus, a pre-teen from Brentwood, has seen his seizures all but disappear.

41. The Week Ahead: December 12-18 - Monday, December 12, 2016

Good morning, Memphis! The colder, wetter weather is upon us now, but that won’t stop the American Queen. LeBron James and his gang come to town Wednesday. That’s the same day that the long-awaited Ikea store in Memphis opens. Expected to be a regional draw, some may camp out in the weather to be one of the first inside. And we offer congratulations to all of the University of Memphis graduates who will convene at FedExForum Sunday for Fall 2016 commencement ceremonies. 

42. Last Word: The Grizz Are Back, Bass Pro Shops Buys Cabela's and Stein at Amurica - Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Some of you will remember the late George Lapides, whom I worked with for a time at WREC, had a policy about pre-season baseball games or what he called the “Grapefruit League.” It was that they didn’t exist. He wouldn’t acknowledge the games much less the scores.

43. The World at your Doorstep - Saturday, August 27, 2016

There is nothing you can’t get delivered these days. If you can imagine owning it, it’s only a matter of time before it can be in your possession, brought to your front door within minutes, hours or days from the first moment you even conjured the thought of having it.

44. French Truck Coffee Making Splash in Memphis - Friday, August 26, 2016

Jimmy Lewis said that when he agreed to move his Relevant Roasters concept into Crosstown Concourse, he was taking a risk. His coffee-roasting operation is only 2 years old, and the in-house coffee shop element at 584 Tillman St. is even newer.

45. Last Word: Graceland's Important Day, MAA's $4 Billion Buy and Hotel Napoleon - Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Before the rain did its thing Monday night at Graceland, the latest Black Lives Matter movement protest was a fact at Graceland’s annual candlelight vigil.

Some tension and lots of noise on the line at Elvis Presley and Craft where police stopped those whom they identified as protesters. And more than a few allegations of racial profiling by police.

46. Samsung's New Jumbo Phone Unlocks With Iris Scanner - Wednesday, August 3, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – You'll be able to unlock Samsung's new phone by just looking at it.

The Galaxy Note 7 will come with an iris scanner, which matches patterns in your eyes with what was detected by your phone during setup. It offers an alternative to fingerprint ID, which doesn't work well when fingers are wet. Of course, the four-digit passcode will still work.

47. And Now It's Comcast vs. The Wait for the Cable Guy - Thursday, July 28, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – Did you hear the one about the cable company that's actually improving customer service? The punchline: Comcast and its rivals say it's no joke.

These companies have poured hundreds of millions into new tools and staff to de-agonize the process of getting cable TV, Internet or phone service. It's part of a yearslong effort to assuage customers as the specter of "cord-cutting" – dumping cable for Netflix and the like – haunts the industry. More than 2 million customers have fled from cable and satellite over the past three years, according to research firm SNL Kagan, and the pace has been accelerating.

48. The Week Ahead: June 27-July 3 - Monday, June 27, 2016

It's been a long time coming, but Friday is the kickoff for wine sales in grocery stores. While you're getting your corkscrews ready, check out what else is going on this week – from a deadline in the greensward mediation process to a special superhero stop at St. Jude...

49. Pop the Cork - Saturday, June 25, 2016

On Nov. 4, 2014, voters in six of Shelby County’s seven municipalities approved wine sales in food stores effective July 1, 2016. The next day, Josh Hammond, president of Buster’s Liquors & Wines, put the gears in motion to acquire the restaurant adjacent to his Highland Street spirits store.

50. NexAir Signs Lease for New HQ at Crosstown Concourse - Thursday, June 23, 2016

495 N. Watkins St.
Memphis, TN 38104
Details: Crosstown Concourse has signed another tenant. Memphis-based nexAir, one of the largest distributors of atmospheric gases and welding supplies in the U.S., will lease 33,000 square feet at the mixed-use tower.

51. Florida Bank Issues First US Credit Card for Use in Cuba - Wednesday, June 15, 2016

HAVANA (AP) – A small Florida bank will issue the first U.S. credit card intended for use in Cuba and make it easier for Americans to travel and work on an island largely cut off from the U.S. financial system, the bank announced Tuesday.

52. Report Says Amazon to Expand its Store-Brand Offerings - Tuesday, May 17, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – Amazon is planning to expand the store-brand items it sells to new categories including food and household products, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The new products could include nuts and spices and other consumer goods such as diapers and laundry detergent.

53. Station to Station - Saturday, May 14, 2016

Even now, Explore Bike Share founder Doug Carpenter does not try to pretend that the initiative will cure all that ails Memphis. 

It won’t wipe out poverty. It can’t cure cancer. It won’t eliminate diabetes and obesity, solve all of the city’s transportation problems or totally bridge cultural and racial gaps that predate the bicycle’s invention.

54. The Week Ahead: April 4-10 - Monday, April 4, 2016

Let’s get this week started, Memphis! Here’s our roundup of local happenings you need to know about in the coming days, from an observance of the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to your first chance to visit Mud Island River Park this season.

55. Liquor Giants a Threat to Dominate Memphis Sales - Friday, March 4, 2016

In less than four months, Memphians will be able to purchase wine in grocery stores.

Since the Tennessee Legislature passed the resolution in 2014, Memphis liquor stores have been prepping for the July 1 bombshell by adding growler stations, padding shelves with packaged cheese and meat and undergoing hefty store expansions.

56. Real Estate Vet: Kroger Looking to Spread its Wings - Monday, February 15, 2016

Jimmy Lewis isn’t surprised by word that emerged in recent days about Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain, eyeing an acquisition of specialty grocer Fresh Market.

57. Kroger to Roll Out Online Ordering In Memphis - Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Kroger plans to bring its online ordering system to the Memphis area soon, expanding a program it’s already rolled out elsewhere in Tennessee that includes employees bringing orders outside to the waiting customer.

58. Collierville Assisted Living Facility Sells for $17 Million - Tuesday, January 12, 2016

601 Wolf River Blvd.
Collierville, TN 38017

Sale Amount: $17 million

Sale Date: Dec. 29, 2015

59. Kiddie Tablets 'Grow Up' As Competition Grows - Monday, December 28, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) – Kiddie tablets have grown up. Tablets designed just for kids are getting more sophisticated as they face increased competition from regular tablets. The new products also have better screens, speedier chips and fashionably slim bodies. They let older children do more, yet hold their hands until they're ready for unsupervised access.

60. 3 Trends for the Holidays - Monday, November 30, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday season is upon us. Here's what shoppers can expect if they're heading out to stores at any point during the holiday shopping season:

NO FIGHTING OVER MUST-HAVE GIFTS

61. UTHSC Pulls $20 Million Permit to Build Simulation Center - Monday, September 7, 2015

26 S. Dunlap St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Permit Amount: $20 million

Permit Date: Applied August 2015
Owner/Tenant: The University of Tennessee
Contractor: Flintco Inc.
Details: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is preparing for more construction as part of its campus overhaul.

62. West-Ward Pharmaceutical Plans Distribution Center Expansion - Tuesday, August 4, 2015

4750 Pleasant Hill Road
Memphis, TN 38116
Loan Amount: $6.1 million

63. Ethnography Alone Cannot Generate Transformative Insights - Monday, August 3, 2015

Consumer anthropology offers such refreshing insights into the marketplace, re-humanizing the relationship between people, things and stores in very profound and moving ways. This movement also has helped stores get their noses out of spreadsheet and theories and keep their eye on the customer experience.

64. Amazon Says 'Prime Day' Will Be Annual Event - Monday, July 20, 2015

Amazon says its "Prime Day" sale led to a sales surge and "hundreds of thousands" of new signups for its $99 annual Prime loyalty program. The company said it plans to make the sale an annual event.

65. Sweet Family Recipe Propels Makeda’s Cookies Expansion - Monday, July 6, 2015

In its past 16 years of business, Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies has learned to add a pinch of grit to the classic butter, sugar and flour recipe.

Husband-and-wife team Maurice and Pamela Hill, along with a host of other family members, bake nearly 20 kinds of cookies and cookie-crust pies in the longstanding store at 2370 Airways Blvd.

66. Boosting Overtime: Obama Calls for Broader Coverage - Wednesday, July 1, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – They're called managers, and they sometimes work grueling schedules at fast food chains and retail stores. But with no overtime eligibility, their pay may be lower per hour than many workers they supervise.

67. Financial Literacy for Young Adults - Wednesday, July 1, 2015

We spend about 18 years preparing our children for the challenges they will face after setting out on their own. However, many parents forget an important detail: the value of preparing children for their financial future.

68. US Consumers Ramp Up May Spending; Largest Gain Since 2009 - Friday, June 26, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. consumer spending surged in May with the biggest monthly increase in nearly six years – a sign of stronger economic growth ahead.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that consumer spending rose 0.9 percent last month, up from a revised 0.1 percent increase in April. May spending registered the biggest gain since August 2009, when the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program fueled auto-buying.

69. Seeds of Nutrition in South Memphis - Thursday, June 25, 2015

Second in a series of profiles on the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ GiVE 365 grantees.

The community garden/urban farming concept literally took root years ago. Knowledge Quest founder and director Marlon Foster remembers well the 25-by-25-foot plot at the Fowler Homes housing project back in 1999. It was a humble beginning planted with a few seeds and a lot of faith and hope.

70. Michigan Investor Pays $7.5 Million for Hickory Hill Apartments - Tuesday, June 23, 2015

5995 Waterstone Oak Way
Memphis, TN
Sale Amount: $7.5 million

Sale Date: June 11, 2015
Buyer: RoCo-Lakes LLC
Seller: RRE Waterstone Holdings LLC
Loan Amount: $6.2 million
Loan Date: June 11, 2015
Maturity Date: June 11, 2017
Lender: Keybank NA
Details: RoCo-Lakes LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, purchased two parcels comprising The Lakes at Ridgeway Apartments on June 11.

71. Local Investment Group Files $11.4 Million Loan - Thursday, June 18, 2015

Radiant Group of Properties LLC filed an $11.4 million loan with BancorpSouth Bank on June 14 for 14 of its retail properties around Memphis and Shelby County.

72. Data Warehouse Raises HealthCare.Gov Privacy Concerns - Tuesday, June 16, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – A government data warehouse that stores information indefinitely on millions of HealthCare.gov customers is raising privacy concerns at a time when major breaches have become distressingly common.

73. Awards Spotlight Knoxville's Top Achievers - Saturday, June 13, 2015

The depth and strength of the Knoxville area business community was highlighted recently with the Knoxville Chamber’s 11th annual Pinnacle Business Awards presentation.

A dry cleaner, government contractor, clothing designer, technology innovator and media executive were among the Knoxville area companies and business leaders recognized for their achievements.

74. Why Americans Are Getting New Credit Cards - Thursday, June 11, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) – A big change is happening inside your wallet.

U.S. banks, tired of spending billions each year to pay back fleeced consumers, are in the process of replacing tens of millions of old magnetic strip credit and debit cards with new cards that are equipped with computer chips that store account data more securely.

75. Apple Watch: Soon Available for Sale in Stores - Friday, June 5, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Soon you'll be able to buy an Apple Watch like you'd buy most other watches – in a store.

Two months after Apple began taking online orders for its newest product, the company said Thursday it plans to begin selling some models in its retail stores in two weeks. Apple also said it's cutting through a backlog of online orders, with most watches ordered by end of May shipping within two weeks.

76. Small-Town Shift - Saturday, May 30, 2015

Fred’s Inc. CEO Jerry A. Shore has been thinking bigger and smaller simultaneously.

“One of my key strategies after being named CEO was to upgrade talent,” said Shore, who had been the company’s CFO for more than 14 years before changing corporate hats a few months ago.

77. Budding Business - Wednesday, May 27, 2015

When you enter the freshly opened Sprouts Farmers Market store in Lakeland, look up.

What you won’t see in the airy, openly designed grocery store are the aisle signs with numbers and product listings found in most grocery stores and retail outlets.

78. County Budget Season Reflects Priorities, Angst - Monday, May 11, 2015

It’s that time of year in Downtown’s Civic Center Plaza.

In late April, May and into June, the budget committee sessions of the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission become the stage for the priorities – political and financial – of both bodies.

79. Love Song to a City - Saturday, March 21, 2015

As the story goes, Al Green wrote the lyrics to “Let’s Stay Together” in about five minutes. In 1972, the song – which spans just three minutes and 13 seconds – reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

80. Wal-Mart Raises Could Help Lift Pay in Lower-Wage Industries - Monday, February 23, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – The modest raises that Wal-Mart has said it will give its lowest-paid workers provide a glimmer of hope for lower-wage workers in other companies and industries.

Other retailers and some fast food restaurants may now feel compelled to follow suit to retain their workers and attract others to fill openings, economists said.

81. American Express, Costco to End US Exclusivity Deal - Friday, February 13, 2015

Costco shoppers who have been limited for years to American Express credit cards may be able to pluck a new option from their wallets or purses next year after an exclusivity deal between the companies expires.

82. Elvis Birthday Proves Eventful on Several Fronts - Monday, January 12, 2015

Jack Soden, the head of Elvis Presley Enterprises, looked out at a crowd on the front lawn of Graceland last week in single-digit temperatures and talked about the durability of Elvis Presley’s appeal.

83. Concerns Raised About Ikea Incentives - Thursday, January 8, 2015

Some city of Memphis officials are concerned that offering tax incentives to Swedish furniture retailer Ikea could set a dangerous precedent, one that could open the door for other retailers, including large mall owners, to seek the tax breaks.

84. Thanksgiving Trumps Black Friday for Deals - Thursday, November 27, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) – Thanksgiving could be the best day to shop all year.

An analysis of sales data and store circulars by two research firms contradicts conventional wisdom that Black Friday is when shoppers can get the most and biggest sales of the year.

85. Survival of the Fittest - Saturday, November 8, 2014

Back in 2010, as the video rental giant Blockbuster was circling the drain in the wake of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the irony was inescapable to Matt Martin.

Martin, co-owner of Black Lodge Video in Memphis, told a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor how Blockbuster employees “literally laughed in our faces” when the independent video rental shop first opened its doors.

86. Major Retailers Step Up to Support St. Jude - Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Several national businesses including major retailers have begun lining up to again raise money during the holiday season for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For St. Jude, the holiday shopping season doubles as a time when the hospital works to raise awareness – and funds – for its battles to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Along those lines, its annual “Thanks and Giving” campaign that runs through the end of December gives the public a way to support the hospital and its mission while also shopping at a variety of businesses.

87. CWCapital Sheds Willow Lake Buildings - Tuesday, October 28, 2014

3900, 4100 Willow Lake Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38118
Sale Amount: $1.9 million

88. Early Vote Turnout Lags Behind 2010 - Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Early voting turnout in advance of the Nov. 4 Election Day was running about 17,000 voters behind the early vote turnout four years ago for the same election cycle through the second and final weekend in the early voting period.

89. Walnut Hill Apartments Sells for $28 Million - Tuesday, September 9, 2014

8920 Walnut Grove Road
Cordova, TN 38018
Sale Amount: $27.9 million

Sale Date: Aug. 28, 2014
Buyer: IRT Walnut Hill Apartments Owner LLC
Seller: 30 California-based limited liability companies
Details: The 324-unit Walnut Hill Apartments in Cordova has sold for $27.9 million to an entity affiliated with Philadelphia-based RAIT Financial Trust.

90. Family Dollar Bucks Dollar General Bid Again - Monday, September 8, 2014

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) – Family Dollar is rejecting Dollar General's latest acquisition offer, and Dollar Tree says it will now divest as many stores as needed to get antitrust clearance for its deal to buy Family Dollar.

91. Macon Homes Complex Sells for $800,000 - Tuesday, August 26, 2014

500 N. Claybrook St.
Memphis, TN 38104
Sale Amount: $800,000

Sale Date: Aug. 20, 2014
Buyer: Crosstown Macon Homes LLC
Seller: Macon Homes
Details: The 24-unit Macon Homes section 8 apartment complex at 500 N. Claybrook St. in Midtown has sold for $800,000.

92. Macy's to Pay $650,000 in Shopper-Profiling Probe - Thursday, August 21, 2014

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Macy's has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle allegations of racial profiling at its flagship store in Manhattan's Herald Square.

Under the agreement signed Tuesday with New York's attorney general, the retailer will adopt new policies on police access to its security camera monitors and against profiling, further train employees, investigate customer complaints, keep better records of detentions and report for three years on its compliance.

93. Supreme Court: Religious Rights Trump Birth Control Rule - Tuesday, July 1, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that some companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, the first time the high court has declared that businesses can hold religious views under federal law.

94. Anti-Meth Law Among Those Taking Effect July 1 - Tuesday, July 1, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – A law limiting the purchase of cold and allergy medicines used to make illegal methamphetamine is among those taking effect Tuesday, as are statutes that require more disclosure from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services and allow use of the electric chair to execute death row inmates.

95. Military Considers Shopping Perk for Most Veterans - Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The U.S. military is looking into allowing all of the nation's veterans who served honorably to shop online at exchanges that sell discounted, name-brand goods – a perk that is currently available only to a small minority.

96. Major Retailers Agree to List Unit Prices Online - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers can skip the math. It's about to get easier to compare prices on products from breakfast cereals to toothpaste at some of the nation's major online retailers.

New York's attorney general said Tuesday that Costco, CVS, FreshDirect, Wal-Mart and Walgreen have agreed to list unit prices on their websites and mobile apps for shoppers nationwide in the coming months. Amazon.com Inc., the world's largest online retailer, did not agree to participate, according to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

97. Online Pirates Thrive on Legitimate Ad Dollars - Wednesday, June 4, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Movie and music piracy thrives online in part because crafty website operators receive advertising dollars from major companies like Comcast, Ford and McDonald's.

That's the conclusion of several recent reports that shed light on Internet piracy's funding sources.

98. Petitions Seek Supermarket Wine Sales in East Tennessee - Wednesday, June 4, 2014

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) – An East Tennessee election official says petitions seeking a local vote on supermarket wine sales have begun circulating.

Sullivan County Administrator of Elections Jason Booher told the Bristol Herald Courier that petitioners have until Aug. 21 to get enough signatures in Bristol and Kingsport.

99. What Shopping Will Look Like in the Future - Monday, May 26, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) – One of America's favorite pastimes is changing rapidly.

When it comes to shopping, more Americans are skipping the stores and pulling out their smartphones and tablets. Still, there's more on the horizon for shopping than just point-and-clicking.

100. Raleigh Springs Mall Owners Question City’s Plans - Monday, May 5, 2014

The owners of the Raleigh Springs Mall had been talking with Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s administration until late last year about the city’s desire to see a revitalized mall possibly with city government offices.