Walmart self-checkouts are under fire in Washington state, with a bill floating around that could fine the retail giant’s stores $10,000 if certain conditions aren’t met. The Daily Mail reports that a bill proposed by the Washington state legislature on Feb. 12 is currently being debated in the halls of the local senate. House Bill 1739 — first proposed by Rep. Mary Fosse, per the Washington State Standard — would create standards for when and how self-checkout stands should be introduced in supermarkets.
If passed in its current form, self-checkouts would be limited to when a traditional checkout line was open. Employees who watch self-service lanes must do it completely and can only monitor up to two stands. Customers would also be allowed to bring only 15 items to check out.
Target is stepping up its grocery game to compete with Walmart and Amazon by opening more temperature-controlled food distribution centers. Despite some recent financial hiccups, Target's food and beverage sales are on the rise. They're also focusing on offering more products and faster delivery. Meanwhile, Walmart and Amazon are also making moves to dominate the grocery market, with Walmart keeping prices low and Amazon restructuring its grocery teams.
Shielding Stores from Gun Violence: The Need for Smart Security Measures Gun violence is turning shopping trips into anxiety-inducing adventures, with nearly 1,200 incidents in retail spaces this year alone. Major stores like Walmart and CVS are feeling the heat, leading to a drop in customers and a rise in employee turnover. The economic and emotional toll is massive, but investing in layered security measures—like better physical barriers, advanced tech, and solid communication systems—can help. [Retail Touchpoints]
Security Guard Shoots and Kills Burglary Suspect Who Crashed Car Into West LA Dispensary In a scene straight out of an action movie, a 16-year-old suspect crashed his car into a West LA dispensary at 3:12 a.m., only to be shot by a security guard who thought a robbery was in progress. The suspect later died in the hospital, and authorities are on the lookout for a possible second suspect who fled the scene. The security guard isn't facing charges, and the incident highlights the tricky legal waters of self-defense, especially when cars are used as battering rams. [USA Carry]
The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit against Lowe’s can proceed after a woman, Hwayo Jenny Galassi, was injured by falling merchandise in one of its stores. The court found that Lowe’s might be liable under a “reasonable foreseeability” exception to traditional premises liability laws. This decision could have significant implications for self-service retail stores, potentially increasing their responsibility for customer safety. The case will now return to the lower court for further proceedings.
From skins to shopping carts: are in-game economies the blueprint for next-gen retail? Retail's so-called innovations are getting stale, with minor tweaks like faster shipping and cleaner UIs. Meanwhile, the gaming world has perfected digital economies with loot boxes, in-game currencies, and trading systems that keep players hooked. Retailers should take notes from gaming's playbook, focusing on emotional engagement, scarcity, and community-driven value. The future of shopping might just be more about the thrill of the game than the efficiency of the cart. [Retail Tech Innovation Hub]
Ed De Jesus, Vice President of Asset Protection at Giorgio Armani joins TalkLP host Amber Bradley to talk luxury brand asset protection. Ed chats about adapting to different industries and different strategies he used to ensure success in an environment where AP wasn’t the first thing on everyone’s mind – sound familiar?
Creating a narrative around the value of asset protection and understanding your ROI points are critical as Ed explains how being the Fox instead of the lion is helpful. Curious about the key to loyalty? Listen as Ed explains why his team has chosen to stay for decades! Check it out.
Have you heard? The Asset Protection Executive Xchange (APEX) conference has added a luxury breakout
Friday's "My Take" by our Editor-in-Chief, Amber Bradley, describes the traits of an octopus and how it relates to a successful loss prevention executive.
"Octopus story was awesome! Totally relatable to loss prevention executives full plate and endless shape-shifting!!" - Anonymous, retail executive
"Loved the Octopus column today…very well written! I can say I have been guilty of eating the appetizer more than once -- but will think twice next time!" - Anonymous, retail executive
"OK, OK! You've convinced me not to eat octopus in the US, but I can't promise it when I visit Greece! Sorry." - Anonymous, grocery executive
We were even sent a meme that describes how amazing Octopuses really are! We knew they were our spirit animal! Thank you retail executive for sending!
Wisconsin bill would strengthen penalties for property, retail theft
A Wisconsin bill could raise the penalties for those convicted of property theft in multiple cases.
The bill would allow for multiple property thefts that occur in a six-month period to be added together as one crime.
Property and retail thefts are charged based upon the items stolen starting with a property theft Class A misdemeanor for items worth less than $2,500 and retail theft for less than $500 up to a Class F felony if the property theft is more than $100,000 or a Class G felony if the retail theft is more than $10,000.
Target employee accused of grand theft after $1,900 stolen from registers
LAKE PARK, Fla. (CBS12) — A Target employee is accused of stealing $1,900 in cash from the Lake Park location's registers over the span of several weeks.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) said Weser Wahib Curry was arrested on March 12 for grand theft after being caught on surveillance footage stealing around $1,900 from the store's registers over several weeks.
The thefts occurred on February 14, February 25, and February 26, at the Target at 500 North Congress Avenue.
Florida nurse and pharmacy employee accused of stealing opioids
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Within just days of each other, two medical professionals in Palm Beach County were arrested for stealing drugs.
The two suspects, one a pharmacy employee and the other an intensive care unit nurse, were arrested for separate offenses after police say both confessed to the thefts.
Silvia Castellano, a Boynton Beach CVS pharmacy employee, was busted for stealing opioid medication a few pills at a time over the course of two years. According to court records, Castellano confessed to police that she had been stealing medication for at least a year.
Bill Aligning State Health and Safety Regulations with OSHA Sees Final Passage
In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, House Bill 398 saw final passage Thursday after the House concurred with the Senate changes and voted 70-20 to send the bill to the Governor.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Walker Thomas, passed a Senate vote with a committee substitute earlier Thursday 28-9.
The bill maintains workplace health and safety measures while increasing the Commonwealth’s competitiveness by aligning Kentucky’s occupational health and safety regulations with federal rules outlined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Arizona Supreme Court: Owners must keep stores safe for customers
Store owners have a legal responsibility to keep their shops “reasonably safe” for customers, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
The justices rejected claims by Circle K that because the case of water that Roxanne Perez tripped over was “open and obvious,” the company cannot be held liable for her injuries.
None of that means Perez ultimately will win her case. Wednesday's ruling sends the case back to a trial court, which had thrown out her lawsuit as lacking legal merit.
A Cape Coral social media sensation whose following reached six digits changed her plea in a case accusing her of stealing items from a retail store and filming herself with the items.
Marlena Velez, 22, on March 4 pleaded no contest to two counts of petty theft ahead of a Thursday hearing before Lee County Judge Maria Gonzalez.
As part of the plea agreement, Gonzalez sentenced Velez to 12 months of probation, which will run concurrent in both cases.
Macy's loses $21.3B in profits and announces it will be closing 150 stores
Macy's has announced plans to shutter 150 stores over the next two years as part of its "Bold New Chapter" strategy, aimed at restructuring the company amidst falling sales, shifting consumer behaviors, and the rise of online shopping.
The closures will affect iconic locations such as Los Angeles' Broadway Plaza.
UnionRayo attributes Macy's downturn to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic pushing consumers towards e-commerce instead of brick-and-mortar retail.
Caution Clouds Walmart and Amazon Outlook as Shoppers Tighten Budgets
Mark your calendar for earnings reports. For Amazon it’s April 29. For Walmart it’s May 15.
If you have any stake or interest in the fortunes of the American consumer, those dates will be ones to watch, because as the first quarter draws to a close, Amazon and Walmart are bracing for what could be a challenging earnings season.
Both companies, bellwethers of consumer spending, have expressed caution about their Q1 prospects due to persistent inflation, weak consumer demand and foreign exchange challenges.
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