Chain Store Age Executive Fax articles from July 2002

Chain Store Age Executive Fax archives from July 2002

New stores, new markets.(includes, Swarovskii opens Pittsburgh International Airport store)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Specialty retailer Swarovski opened a store at Pittsburgh International Airport. Family Dollar acquired two buildings in Pensacola, Fla., from Advance Auto Parts. Barnes & Noble leased space at Jones Farm Shopping Center in...

A&P releases 2001 annual report, chain also restates 2000, 1999 data.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... Supermarket retailer A&P reported a loss of $71.9 million on sales of $10.79 billion in fiscal 2001. Those long-awaited numbers were filed this week with the. Securities and Exchange Commission after A&P made an internal review of its...

Home Depot will replace gift cards.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Consumers who have either lost their Home Depot gift cards or had them stolen can now have them replaced. The home-improvement chain has changed its policy toward the cards, which are considered the same as cash, after New York State attorney...

Kmart to edit SKU count further.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... An article in the Detroit Free Press this week reported that Kmart plans to trim its merchandise selection as part of its effort to emerge from bankruptcy and return to profitability Since its Chapter 11 filing in January, Kmart has reportedly...

Fleming appointed Rob Allen. (People in the News).(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Fleming appointed Rob Allen executive VP and president of convenience distribution. He previously was president. and chief executive of Core-Mark International, which Fleming purchased earlier this month.

Saks Inc. (People in the News).(Jeff Simpson appointment)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Saks Inc. tapped Jeff Simpson as VP of special events for its Proffitt's/McRae's department store division. Simpson was formerly director of marketing for Knoxville Sports Corp., a sports marketing firm.

Universal Studios Hollywood. (People in the News).(John Scales appointment)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... John Scales was appointed VP of retail operations of Universal Studios Hollywood. He will be responsible for Universal's 22 retail locations and concession retail businesses. Scales was recently employed with video rental chain Hollywood...

Comps dip 0.9% in last week of June.(retail sales decline)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Retail same-store sales declined 0.9% in the week ending June 29, compared with the prior week. The news comes from compiled by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and UBS Warburg. Among the top selling items of the week were seasonal hardlines...

Smart & Final tests digital receipts.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Smart & Final is now able to dispense digital on-line receipts to its customers at 189 of its 230 stores. The retailer says the move has reduced labor in the accounting department and has helped it build market share.

Wal-Mart imposes stricter gun policy.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Wal-Mart is taking the law into its own hands, in a matter of speaking. The discount retailer is toughening its stance on gun sales at its stores and says it will no longer sell rifles or shotguns to consumers if the results of their background...

Amazon.com said to open apparel store.(plans possible partnership agreements with apparel chains)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... First came books. Then music, toys, electronics and other goods. Now, Amazon.com is reportedly in talks with a few apparel chains to partner with them and sell their offerings through its Web site. The news comes from an article in this weeks...

Wakefern will acquire Big V chain.(Wakefern Food Corp. to acquire Big V Supermarket assets)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Retailer-owned cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. will acquire all of the assets of Big V Supermarkets. The proposal, which was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court, is expected to begin execution in mid-July. Big V operates 27 supermarkets in New...

Coach has teamed with Case London Ltd. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to open new locations)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Coach has teamed with Case London Ltd. to open up to 25 retail locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The majority of the stores will be situated within department stores.

Jacobson Store. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to divest assets)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Jacobson Store says it will either sell its 18 stores to a buyer or liquidate its assets. The chain's chief executive/president says it would have proven to be an unworkable option to continue operating with its current identity.

Alimentation Couche-Tard purchased Handy Andy Food Stores. (This Week's REtail News Nuggets).(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Alimentation Couche-Tard purchased Handy Andy Food Stores, a 16-store chain based in Indianapolis. Last month, Couche-Tard bid $80 million to acquire Dairy Mart, which would add 450 more stores to its tally.

Publix will not bring its e-grocery subsidiary. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(PublixDirect not coming to Orlando and Atlanta)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Publix will not bring its e-grocery subsidiary. PublixDireet, to the Orlando, Fla., and Atlanta markets this year as was expected. A decision will be made next year.

BestBuy.com. (This Week's Retail News Nuggests).(free shipping for a limited time)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... BestBuy.com is offering free shipping for a limited time.

Kroger. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to give 2,600 employees $1 per hour raise over four years)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... Kroger struck a deal with Local 2008 that will give roughly 2,600 employees a $1-per-hour pay raise spread over four years, restore insurance costs to a better rate and continue to schedule shifts based on seniority.

Best Buy. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Best Buy plans to open its first store in Alaska in Anchorage by the fall.

Borders. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Borders will open a pair of stores in Melbourne, Australia by yearend. One location will open in September at the Know City Shopping Centre. The second will open two months later at the Lygon Court Shopping Centre in Canton a suburb of...

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Jos. A. Bank Clothiers opened in University Village in Fort Worth, Texas, and in the Summit Mall in Akron, Ohio.

Famous Footwear. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Famous Footwear added shops in Gateway Station in Burleson, Texas; Northwest Marketplace in Houston: and Palm Valley Pavilions West in West Goodyear, Ariz.

Cato. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Cato is opening at Northgate Shopping Center in Pittsburgh on July 24.

Barnes & Noble. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Barnes & Noble will add a store in Riverbend Market Place in Rome, Ga., in October 2003.

Pearle Vision. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Pearle Vision added a store at Downtown short Pump in Richmond, Va.

Z Gallerie, Cache and Coldwater Creek will be among the tenants of Triangle Town Center. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Z Gallerie, Cache and Coldwater Creek will be among the tenants of Triangle Town Center, Raleigh, N.C. Also opening there will be The Walking Co., a footwear chain.

Tractor Supply Co. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Tractor Supply Co. opened this week in Salina, Kan.

Sisley and Benetton Kids, both divisions of United Colors of Benetton. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Sisley and Benetton Kids, both divisions of United Colors of Benetton, leased space at the AOL Time Warner Center in New York City They will open in fall 2003.

KB Toys. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... KB Toys opened at Flatlron Crossing in Broomfield, Colo.

No summertime blues in June, comps rise 5.1% for the month.(store sales)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
July 12, 2002... Retailers got back on track in June, reporting a healthy--and much needed--5.1% increase in comparable-store sales, according to the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi's tally of 82 chain stores. The gain is attributed to the hot weather and a pent-up...

Eddie Bauer appointed Fabian Mansson. (People in the News).(chief executive, president)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... As was expected, Eddie Bauer appointed Fabian Mansson chief executive and president. He is the former chief executive of Hennes & Mauritz.

Fleming named Keith Durham senior VP of its retail group. (People in the News).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Fleming named Keith Durham senior VP of its retail group. He will be responsible for the company's Food4Less and Rainbow Foods divisions.

Sharper Image. (People in the News).(Deborah Dinkelacker named vice president)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Sharper Image appointed Deborah Dinkelacker senior VP of marketing.

Ralphs. (People in the News).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Ralphs named Mike Vriens VP of its industrial engineering department.

Staples acquires Medical Arts Press.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Staples is spending $385 million in cash to acquire Medical Arts Press, a direct marketer of specialized printed office products and related supplies to healthcare practices. Medical Arts Press will continue to operate under its own name and...

7-Eleven rolling out more Vcoms.(financial service kiosks)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Convenience store retailer 7-Eleven says it will bring its financial services kiosks, titled Vcom, to 1,000 stores later this year. The company has been testing Vcom in just under 100 stores in Florida and Texas. 7-Eleven partnered with NCR...

Federated to cut jobs after N.J. tax hike.(Federated Department Stores plans steps to offset higher tax in New Jersey)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Federated Department Stores says it will cutjobs, cancel expansion plans and possibly shutter stores in New Jersey after a new corporate tax law signed last week by Governor James McGreevey increased the amount of taxes paid by businesses this...

Combo format way to go at Albertson's.(Albertson's Inc. plans more combination supermarket/drug store outlets)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... "We're going to combo the whole country." That's what Albertson's chief executive Larry Johnston said this week when he announced that. the grocer plans to spend roughly $1 billion over the next few years to expand its combination...

Limited expanding aura science format.(Aura Science cosmetics stores)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Limited Brands is moving Last to expand its new aura science concept, a joint venture operation with Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido Co. The retailer just opened its fourth aura science store last week in Chicago and says it will have a...

Starting this October, Fleming will supply all domestic Target stores with candy, cookies, and frozen and refrigerated foods. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Starting this October, Fleming will supply all domestic Target stores with candy, cookies, and frozen and refrigerated foods. Fleming already supplies a number of SuperTarget locations with grocery, frozen and perishable products.

Oakley will open in-store shops in 20 additional Macy's West locations. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Oakley will open in-store shops in 20 additional Macy's West locations by the holiday season and in nine more Parisian stores by the fourth quarter. It currently operates boutiques in five Macy's West stores in California and Hawaii, and in...

Kroger partnered with R&M Video to put video-rental departments. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(in supermarkets)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Kroger partnered with R&M Video to put video-rental departments into 16 former Albertson's stores it recently acquired in the Houston area.

Cost Plus World Market. (New Stores, New Markets).(store opening)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Cost Plus World Market opened its sixth store in the Dallas area this week.

Cato. (New Stores, New Markets).(planned stores)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Cato will open stores in Foley, Ala.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Port Lavaca, Texas; Springfield, Mo.; and Carlsbad, N.M.; on July 31.

Skechers USA. (New Stores, New Markets).(new flagship store)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Skechers USA opened its new flagship store today at the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.

The Sports Authority. (New Stores, New Markets).(store lease)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... The Sports Authority leased space at McCain Plaza in North Little Rock, Ark.

Barnes & Noble. (New Stores, New Markets).(planned stores)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Barnes & Noble will add a shop at the Palm Valley Pavilions West in Goodyear, Ariz. next April. In June it will open in Murray, Utah at The Pointe.

Ann Taylor, Talbots and Ware Jewelers. (New Stores, New Markets).(store leases)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Ann Taylor, Talbots and Ware Jewelers signed on as tenants of The Shoppes at EastChase, Montgomery, Ala.

Arhaus Furniture. (New Stores, New Markets).(store lease)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Arhaus Furniture leased space at Belden Park Crossing in Canton, Ohio.

PETsMART. (New Stores, New Markets).(Minnesota opening)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... PETsMART will open a store at Eagan (Minn.) Promenade.

Great Farmers Market. (New Stores, New Markets).(New Jersey store)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Great Farmers Market is adding a store in South Plainfield, N.J., this fall in a former Acme location.

Marshalls. (New Stores, New Markets).(Idaho opening)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Marshalls will open at Meridian Crossroads in Boise, Idaho.

Best Buy and Old Navy. (New Stores, New Markets).(openings in Minnesota)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Best Buy and Old Navy opened stores at Riverdale Village in Coon Rapids, Minn.

Correction.
July 19, 2002... Cato's new store at Northgate Shopping Center is located in Pittsburgh, Kan., not Pittsburgh, Pa., as was reported in last week's EFax.

Sears working to allow other stores to accept its credit card.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 19, 2002... Sears has high hopes for its private-label credit card, as well it should. The retailer says margin rate improvements and growth of the Sears Gold MasterCard helped to more than double its earnings in the second quarter ended June 29, from $197...

Phar-Mor closing shop, sells Rx lists.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... After two bankruptcy filings, Phar-Mor is throwing in the towel. The discount drug chain will shutter its 73 remaining stores in eight states and sell the prescription lists at those locations to grocer Giant Eagle and CVS, a rival drug chain....

Costco to test home furnishings store.(Costco Home)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Costco knows that people buy furniture when at its warehouse clubs. It now wants to find out if consumers will buy home furnishings without picking up bulk groceries. The retailer will begin testing a new format titled Costco Home in Kirkland,...

Profits as percentage of sales rising.(retail industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 19, 2002... Retail profits increased as a percentage of sales in the first quarter compared to last year, the Commerce Department reported. After-tax profits were 2.2% of sales in the first quarter, compared to 1.8% of sales in the same quarter last year....

Nordstrom. (People in the News).(names president for catalog and Internet division)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Nordstrom appointed Jim Bromley president of its catalog and Internet division, replacing Ray Johnson, who had been serving as interim CEO and president.

J.C. Penney. (People in the News).(executive announcements)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... J.C. Penney promoted Vanessa Castagna to chairwoman and chief executive of its store, catalog and Internet divisions. Penney also named Ken Hicks, a former Payless ShoeSource president as president and COO of its store and merchandise...

Alan Shor resigned as president and COO of Zales. (People in the News).(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Alan Shor resigned as president and COO of Zales. The chain's CEO, Mary Forte, was given the added post of president while Sue Gove was promoted to executive VP and COO.

Wal-Mart. (People in the News).(names new financial services head)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Wal-Mart named Jane Thompson president of its financial services division.

Bashas' partners with restaurant.(El Charro's food to be produced by Bashas'-owned plant)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Bashas' has teamed with El Charro, a Mexican restaurant chain, to sell ready-to-eat food at its 130 stores in Arizona, according to an article in the Arizona Daily Star. The food will be prepared at Chonita Foods, a manufacturing plant in...

Regis purchases 328 Borics hair salons.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Regis acquired 328 full service hair salons in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania operating under the BoRics name. The stores are located in strip centers and are expected to boost revenues by $62 million.

Saks plants itself firmly with Roots.(Saks Inc. to open in-store Roots Canada Ltd. boutiques)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Saks Inc. signed an agreement with Roots Canada Ltd. this week that will see the latter company open in-store boutiques in 52 of Saks' department stores next month. The stores will sell Roots men's and women's athletic sportswear, sunglasses,...

Kmart needs its kicks from Route 66.(Kmart seeks to keep license to sell Route 66 clothing brand)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Kmart is asking the bankruptcy courts once again for permission to pay and retain, one of its key vendors. The retailer is seeking to pay Route 66 a royalty payment of $2.6 million and to renew its licensing deal with the apparel and...

Gristede's, Kings deal nixed, for now.(Gristede's, D'Agostino's compete to acquire Kings Super Markets from Marks & Spencer)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... It's a two-way battle to acquire Kings Super Market once again. Gristede's Foods failed to negotiate a deal to acquire the grocer during an exclusivity period in which it was supposed to seal the acquisition with Marks & Spencer, Rings' owner....

RadioShack settles two lawsuits.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... RadioShack tentatively settled a lawsuit this week that alleged the consumer-electronics retailer didn't pay some of its store managers in California overtime pay. The company will pay up to $29.9 million, some of which will be used to pay the...

Stein Mart selected DSW Shoe Warehouse. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to supply its shoe departments)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Stein Mart selected DSW Shoe Warehouse to merchandise the shoe departments at 157 of its 260 stores. Nine West Group will continue to supply the other stores.

Little Switzerland will open Tiffany & Co. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(more boutiques in Caribbean region)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Little Switzerland will open Tiffany & Co. boutiques in two more stores in the Caribbean.

CBL & Associates. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(building shopping center in Chattanooga, Tennessee)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... CBL & Associates began building The Shoppes at Hamilton Place in Chattanooga. Tenn.

Belk, Dillard's and Sears will serve as the anchor tenants of the Mall of South Carolina. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Belk, Dillard's and Sears will serve as the anchor tenants of the Mall of South Carolina, located in Myrtle Beach, S.C. All three chains will open two-level stores. The shopping center will open in spring 2004.

Walgreens will open a store in Waterloo. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Walgreens will open a store in Waterloo, Iowa, on a piece of land it purchased from Albertson's. Walgreens will also open in Pomona, Calif.

The Home Depot. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... The Home Depot has opened its third store in the Tulsa, Okla., area.

A former Payless Cashways building will house four furniture stores in Waco. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... A former Payless Cashways building will house four furniture stores in Waco, Texas. Oak Express, Sofa Mart, Denver Mattress and Bedroom Expressions are expected to open there by next April.

Borders. (New Stores, New Markets).(new CA store)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Borders is opening at Monte Vista Crossings Shopping Center in Turlock, Calif., in November.

Barnes & Noble. (New Stores, New Markets).(signs lease in Park City, UT)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Barnes & Noble signed a lease to open in Park City, Utah, in the Redstone Towne Center. It will open in October 2003.

Ashley Stewart. (New Stores, New Markets).(new Maryland store)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Ashley Stewart opens next month at the King Shopping Center in Landover, Md.

KB Toys. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... KB Toys added a store at the Casino Factory Shops in Tunica, Miss.

Dakota Watch Co. just opened at Janesville. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Dakota Watch Co. just opened at Janesville (Wis.) Mall. Steven's Furniture leased space in Scottsdale, Aria., on Scottsdale Road.

EB Gameworld. (New Stores, New Markets).(new Phoenix location)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... EB Gameworld will open a store at Foothills Park Place in Phoenix.

Wal-Mart teams with Thrifty; German employees may strike.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Wal-Mart is moving lock, stock and barrel into all things car-related, or so it seems. The discount retailer partnered with Thrifty Car Rental this week to offer flat-rate pricing for customers through its Web site, Walmart.com. The companies...

Kmart cutting jobs, reports June loss.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 26, 2002... As part of an effort to keep staffing levels on par with sales, Kmart says it will reduce its staff by an unspecified number over the next two months. The layoffs will include employees at its corporate offices, distribution centers and stores....

Jacobson Stores going out of business.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... After 134 years in the retailing business. Jacobson Stores is throwing in the towel. A bankruptcy-court judge gave the department store chain permission this week to sell its merchandise, credit cards and equipment to a group of five...