Chain Store Age Executive Fax articles from September 2001

Chain Store Age Executive Fax archives from September 2001

Pottery Barn.(new prototype)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Pottery Barn will unveil a new prototype in Palo Alto, Calif.

99 Cents Only Stores.(new stores)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... 99 Cents Only Stores will open its fourth store in Arizona next weekend in Mesa. The chain just opened in Santa Maria, Calif.

S&K Famous Brands.(two new Virginia stores)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... S&K Famous Brands added a pair of stores in Richmond, Va., and one shop in Toledo, Ohio. Elsewhere in Richmond, Dollar Daze leased store space.

Elder-Beerman.(new store in Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Elder-Beerman will open in one week in DuBois, Pa., at The Commons.

Borders.(opening new store)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Borders will open later in the month in Indianapolis across from the Circle Centre Mall.

Club Monaco.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Cabazon (Calif.) Outlets will feature Club Monaco and Brighton Collectibles this October.

Bob's Discount Furniture.(leased space)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Bob's Discount Furniture leased space in Norwich, Conn.

Banana Republic.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Banana Republic opened at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, N.H.

National Auto Stores.(new location)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... National Auto Stores and Dollar General leased space at Capitol Plaza in Bangor, Pa.

Talbots, The Bombay Co.(The Village of Rochester Hills shopping center gets new tenants)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... New tenants for The Village of Rochester (Mich.) Hills include Talbots, The Bombay Co., and The Children's Place. The center will open its doors next September.

Wal-Mart.(to construct Tallahassee supercenter)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Wal-Mart will construct a supercenter in Tallahassee, Fla.

A.J. Wright.(leased space)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... A.J. Wright, a unit of TJX, leased space at Oxen Hill (Md.) Plaza.

PriceSmart.(warehouse in Barbados)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... PriceSmart opened a warehouse in Barbados.

Ultimate Electronics.(to open Arlington, Texas store)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Ultimate Electronics will open a store next August in Arlington, Texas.

COMPS INCREASE 3.5% IN AUGUST, DISCOUNTERS STILL RULE SCHOOL.(comparable store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 7, 2001... The kids are back in school, but if you asked the majority of retailers, they wouldn't believe it. That's because back-to-school shopping has been less than enthusiastic among most consumers. Comparable-store sales rose 3.5% industrywide in...

PEOPLE.(includes, Toys "R" Us, Steve Krajewski appointment)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Steve Krajewski was named senior VP of store operations of Toys "R" Us. He most recently was senior VP of sales and merchandising for Staples. Meanwhile, Staples president and COO Ronald Sargent will replace founder Thomas Stemberg as CEO,...

AHOLD TO PURCHASE ALLIANT, BRUNO'S.(Royal Ahold N.V. to acquire Alliant FoodService Inc., Bruno's Supermarkets)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 7, 2001... Royal Ahold is expanding once again through two acquisitions, this time buying both a foodservice company and a supermarket chain. Ahold is spending roughly $2.2 billion, including the assumption of $700 million debt, to buy Alliant, a $6.6...

SUPPLY CHAIN GETS MAKEOVER AT KMART.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... After embarking on a $2 billion plan to improve its store operations last year, Kmart now says it will revamp its supply chain in an effort to improve productivity. Part of the deal includes closing a pair of distribution centers, constructing...

WAL-MART SPURNS INTERLINK DEBIT CARDS.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Starting Oct. 13, Wal-Mart will quit accepting debit cards serviced by Visa International subsidiary Interlink The decision is a response to an increase in Interlink's transaction fees from 20 cents per transaction to 45 cents. Wal-Mart will...

Kmart.(Kmart Corp. ends ad campaign)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Kmart ended its "Dare to Compare" ad campaign.

The Right Start.(completes Zany Brainy acquisition)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... The Right Start completed its acquisition of virtually all of the assets of Zany Brainy.

Toys "R" Us.(remodels stores)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Toys "R" Us will have remodeled some 415 of its 704 domestic toy stores by the holiday season.

HomeBase.(to change name to House2Home)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... HomeBase will change its corporate name to House2Home, effective Sept. 8.

Fry's Electronics.(to acquire Cyberian Outpost Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Fry's Electronics is expected to buy on-Line retailer Cyberian Outpost as soon as the latter company backs out of an existing merger agreement with PC Connection.

Linens'n Things.(alliance with TheKnot.com)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Linens'n Things teamed with on-line wedding registry site TheKnot.com

Winn-Dixie.(to rename Jitney Jungle stores)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Winn-Dixie is renaming the remaining 48 Jitney Jungle stores it operates to its own banner.

Sears CEO.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Sears CEO Alan Lacy expects weak sales for the next two quarters. Comps will be flat or in the negative low single digits.

Osh Kosh B'Gosh.(to be sold in Kohl's Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Kohl's will add Osh Kosh B'Gosh products next spring. Thechain plans to open 70 stores next year on top of the 62 planned for this year.

Rite Aid.(to open new stores)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2001... Rite Aid will open roughly 25 stores a year for the next two years, according to CEO Bob Miller.

NEW STORES, NEW MARKETS.(United States)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2001... Motherhood Maternity leased space in Empire Mall, located in Sioux Falls, S.D. Look for Express, Bath & Body Works, Lane Bryant and The Limited at Los Cerritos (Calif.) Mall. Bed Bath & Beyond will open at Boulder Plaza. 99 Cents...

NRF LOWERS RETAIL SALES FORECAST AMID GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY.(National Retail Federation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 21, 2001... The attacks changed everything. The National Retail Federation pointed to the continuing psychological and economic impact of the Sept. 11 tragedy as it revised its retail sales forecast. The NRF's forthcoming Retail Sales Outlook report...

CASEY'S PLEDGES GAS HIKE REFUNDS.(Casey's General Stores)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 21, 2001... Casey's General Stores is doing everything it can to erase the specter of price gouging from its reputation. Three days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Casey's said it was issuing refunds to consumers who paid higher prices...

WAL-MART BIDS ON M&S SHOPS.(Marks & Spencer)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2001... Looking for a way to compete with Carrefour, its largest global rival, Wal-Mart placed a bid on the continental European operations of Marks & Spencer. The news comes from a report in French weekly newspaper Le Point. French retailers...

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS.(multiple retail industry executive appointment briefs)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2001... Lawrence Turner will step down from his position as treasurer of Cincinnati-based Kroger Corp. on Jan. 5, 2002. He has been with the company for 28 years. Scott Henderson will succeed Turner as VP, treasurer. Henderson is currently VP of...

PUBLIX, WALGREENS JOIN IN FEE BATTLE.(Publix Supermarktes, Walgreen Co. reject Visa Interlink debit cards because of high transaction fees)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 21, 2001... It's too early to call it a full-blown revolt, but a second and third major retailer put their feet down on the issue of debit-card fees. Publix Supermarkets and Walgreen Co. say they will not accept Visa's Interlink-brand debit cards beginning...

PLAYGROUND MATCH UP: SEARS AND KB TOYS.(Sears, Roebuck and Co. stores to house K-B Toys toy departments)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 21, 2001... Score another point for the store-within-a-store movement. Pittsfield, Mass-based K-B Toys and Hoffman Estates, 111.-based Sears, Roebuck and Co. are introducing "K-B Toys at Sears" licensed toy departments at 29 Sears locations in time for the...

NASH-FINCH ADDS SUPPLY CUSTOMERS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 21, 2001... Supermarket retailer and food distributor Nash-Finch will gain $70 million in revenues after signing a number of wholesaling contracts with five clients. New customers of Nash-Finch include four-store chain Marketplace Foods in Wisconsin;...

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE PLUMMETS; HOLIDAY SALES MAY FALL SHORT.(economic results of World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... It's been two weeks since the attacks on America, and in that time, the economic ramifications have greatly affected the retail industry. Many companies have said that sales in September--and most likely for the fiscal year--will fall short of...

PATRIOTIC, FAITH-BASED SALES ON THE RISE.(patriotic and religious products increase in sales after World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... In the wake of the attacks, consumers have shifted their purchases towards patriotic, spiritual and comfort-themed merchandise. Family Christian Stores (FCS) has seen a "dramatic spike" in sales this past week with a 28% increase in Bible...

PHAR-MOR, DAIRY MART SEEK BANKRUPTCY.(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Listing assets of $345 million and debts of $300 million, Phar-Mor filed to restructure under Chapter 11 this week. The drug store chain will close 65 of its 139 stores that are either underperforming or outside of its core markets. It also...

NEW STORES, NEW MARKETS.(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Sears, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Hecht's and Old Navy will anchor Bowie (Md.) Town Center, opening on Oct. 18. Other tenants will include: American Eagle Outfitters, Dress Barn, Gap, Pacific Sunwear, Wet Seal, Rave, Limited Too, Men's...

Webvan.(sells technology platform to Mercury Acquisitions Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Webvan will sell its technology platform for $2.5 million to Mercury Acquisitions Corp., a company controlled by Webvan and Borders founder Louis Borders.

Snyder's Drug Stores.(acquires Drug Emporium)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... Snyder's Drug Stores completed its acquisition of Drug Emporium. It now operates 161 stores in 16 states.

PEOPLE.(executive appointments)(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... At Steve Madden: Richard Olicker, COO, was given the added position of president; Robert Schmertz was named president of its women's wholesale division; and Rhonda Brown resigned as a director.... Bed Bath & Beyond elected Victoria Morrison...

NORDSTROM TO REDUCE HOURS, CUT JOBS.(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Bad turned to worse this week for Nordstrom. The retailer says it will cut a number of jobs at its stores across the nation and reduce working hours for some of its sales staff. Nordstrom did not say whether corporate jobs would be affected....

WASHINGTON TOWN LOSING RETAIL FERVOR.(Yakima Malls sees stores moving out)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... J.C. Penney was the first to leave, followed by The Bon Marche and then Nordstrom. Now, Mervyn's says it will close its store in Yakima, Wash., after a strong decline in sales over the past few years. After 17 years in business, the Target...

DOLLAR GENERAL FIRES ITS AUDITING FIRM.(Deloitte and Touche)(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Dollar General said goodbye to Deloitte & Touche, its auditing firm. Prior to leaving, Deloitte informed Dollar General that it had discovered information that if further investigated could have affected the fairness or reliability of its...

Federated.(Federated Department Stores figures)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... Federated estimates that sales are running roughly $110 million, or 20%, below plan. It expects comps to decline 15% to 20% in September.

Yankee Candle.(contract with Linens 'n Things to sell selected items)(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Linens 'n Things stores will sell select merchandise from Yankee Candle in early October.

Duane Reade.(temporarily closed 20 stores due to World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... Duane Reade was forced to temporarily close 20 shops after the attacks two weeks ago. Roughly $12 million in sales is estimated to be lost from the stores. Its store in the World Trade Center shopping area was destroyed.

Kmart.(plans to build distribution center)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... Kmart will spend $120 million to construct a 1.6 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Florida, N.Y.

Mycal.(Wal-Mart considers acquiring Mycal Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 28, 2001... Wal-Mart is reportedly considering the purchase of failed Japanese supermarket chain Mycal for roughly $854 million. Under the proposed deal, Wal-Mart would take over 96 of the 144 stores and close the remainder.

Viking Office Products.(introduces website in Austria)(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Viking Office Products launched a Web site in Austria, located at vikingdirekt.at.

Amazon.com.(Brief Article)
September 28, 2001... Amazon.com launched a travel store on its Web site featuring flight, hotel, car rental and cruise information from Expedia. Amazon.com plans to expand the deal to its U.K. operations later in the year.