DSN Retailing Today articles from December 2004

DSN Retailing Today archives from December 2004

New no. 3 on paper, but can Sears/Kmart deliver?(Kmart Corp., Sears, Roebuck and Co.)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK -- The teaming up of Kmart and Sears in what might be considered the boldest merger of the decade creates the nation's third-largest retailer with $55 billion in revenue. Yet closer analysis yields many unanswered questions about the...

Where does this leave Penney's off-mall plan?(JCPenney Company Inc.)
December 13, 2004... PLANO, TEXAS -- Although the impact of the Sears/Kmart merger on retail competition appears hard to predict at this stage, JCPenney is one rival that may be put to the test, given similarities to Sears' format and interest by both chains in...

Black Friday blues.(industry sales and revenue)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK -- Department stores and CE chains beat out mss merchants at the official start of the holiday season, according to November sales reports from the nation's leading retail companies. According to research firm ShopperTrack RCT,...

Two new Best Buy off-shoots build on Centricity.
December 13, 2004... CHICAGO -- That Best Buy has been testing new formats as part of its Customer Centricity program is no secret, but the chain recently opened two new stores that it not only managed to keep secret, but that don't even bear the Best Buy name....

Food is wild card in merger deck.(retail industry)
December 13, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. AND TROY, MICH. -- With all the hype about sharing brands such as Martha Stewart, Craftsman and Kenmore, a merchandise category getting little analytical attention in the pending Kmart-Sears merger is food and...

Sears/Kmart deal extends Martha's reach.
December 13, 2004... The marriage of Sears and Kmart may turn out to be a happy event or it may turn out to be the beginning of an unhappy partnership, depending on developments. But Martha Stewart just might be the wedding guest who catches the bouquet, as the...

Kmart's new king maker alone in the throne.(Eddie Lampert plans to own 42 percent of a company formed after Sears and Kmart merger)
December 13, 2004... CHICAGO -- Nearly every magazine, investor and business observer these days is asking, Who is Eddie Lampert? The reply, according to some, is the next Warren Buffet. While others liken him more to "Wall Street" villain Gordon Gekko, a...

Vendors see better selling options.
December 13, 2004... During the past few years, retail consolidation has driven many vendors to distraction. While the merger of Sears and Kmart may indicate further market shrinkage, a number of top suppliers are excited about the deal's potential. "For us,...

Bidders emerging for Carrefour Japan.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... TOKYO -- If reports out of Japan prove accurate, Carrefour is looking to exit the country just four years after opening its first store. Wal-Mart and Japanese retailers Aeon and Izumiya are reportedly interested in acquiring the stores and...

Shank retires from Duckwall-ALCO.(Duckwall-Alco Stores Inc., Glen Shank)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... ABILENE, KANSAS -- Glen Shank's longtime tenure as ceo of Duckwall-ALCO stores will conclude next year as he retires for personal reasons against the backdrop of investor pressure to improve the company's performance and review of a...

Ross stores names new executives.(Ross Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... PLEASANTON, CALIF. -- Ross Stores announced that it has appointed Michael Kobayashi to the position of senior vp and cio, effective Dec. 16. Kobayashi will report directly to Jim Peters, the company's president and coo. Prior to joining...

Schlaepfer exits executive suite of Linens 'n Things.(Audrey Schlaepfer)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... CLIFTON, N.J. -- The first high-profile move by new Linens 'n Things president and coo Jack Moore has changed around the executive suite rather than stores. On Nov. 23, the company announced that Audrey Schlaepfer, evp and cmo had resigned...

Asda tests small format in tight U.K. market.
December 13, 2004... WALSALL, ENGLAND -- Asda Living is the latest manifestation of an evolving small-store strategy that Wal-Mart's British division is using to test fresh approaches in a competitive marketplace. A combination of brand-extension, real estate and...

Wal-Mart reports November results.(Financials)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart reported total company sales for November were up 8.7% to $23.5 billion, compared to the same period last year. Comp-store sales for the month were up 0.7%, far lower than the company's original forecast of an...

Ahold posts third-quarter sales.(Royal Ahold N.V.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS -- Royal Ahold announced third-quarter net sales of $15.96 billion, a decrease of 8.3% compared to the same period in 2003. For the quarter, the company reported an operating loss of $42.21 million.

Top gainers for 2 weeks ended 12/1/04.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 13, 2004... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 12/1/04 Ultimate Electronics 20.00% Gottschalks 18.69 Hastings Entertainment 18.57 Pep Boys 12.36 Hibbett Sporting Goods 10.23

Top losers for 2 weeks ended 12/1/04.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 13, 2004... TOP LOSERS Casual Male 13.50% Limited Brands 9.19 Big Lots 8.62 Stein Mart 8.22 Tractor Supply Co. 8.16

Major indices.(stock price indexes)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 13, 2004... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Close Close 11/7/04 11/7/04 11/7/04 11/7/04 S&P 500 (GSPC) 1181.94 1191.37 9.43 0.80% Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)...

Stocks sold.(Insider Trades)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... SEARS: Janine M. Bousquette, evp, sold 33,332 shares on Nov.18 at $52.59, and now owns 40,000 shares. Kristine K. Crow, senior vp, sold 12,768 shares on Nov. 29 at $52.67, and now owns 24,035 shares. Greg Lee, svp, sold 93,224 shares...

Target designs are better urban fit.(Target Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... CHICAGO -- Even as communities throughout the United States are busy passing ordinances to keep Wal-Mart stores from opening, Target is busy developing stores and designs that meet or exceed community standards. "It's amazing how many...

Study puts price tag on local retailers.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... CHICAGO -- A new study conducted by Civic Economics and commissioned by local merchant groups, looks at the economic impact on a community when a big-box retailer moves in--and for the first time, attributes a number to resident's fears....

Strong relations with shipper bodes well for Foot Locker.
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK -- The growth of overseas sourcing has had an enormous impact on retailing in the United States, and it is driving changes in the economy of both retailers and the country in general. Dealing with evolving realities in distribution...

Crate & Barrel's baby gets a new store.
December 13, 2004... OAKBROOK, IL -- It's a small retail operation, for small people, but Land of Nod has high standards and even bigger backers. The children's home furnishings and accessories chain opened a new store near Chicago last month, the first that...

Thank you, Mao.(communism and retail industry)(Editorial)
December 13, 2004... It's not every day that one of the fathers of Communism appears in the pages of DSN Retailing Today. But if you find it ironic that a news publication espousing the virtues of Adam Smith, one of the fathers of capitalism, would even...

Online Monday blacker than in-store Friday.(Editorial)
December 13, 2004... It's a sure bet that online retailers were a lot happier with the numbers they posted on Black Monday than their bricks-and-mortar counterparts were with in-store sales three days earlier on Black Friday. That's because online spending...

Ringing in retail's new year.(Editorial)
December 13, 2004... With the holiday season in full swing, retailers are understandably preoccupied with sales reports, when to take markdowns, the timing of gift card redemptions and countless operational details. All are valid concerns, but at this stage...

K-Sears, K-sera, sera!(Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corp.'s merger)(Editorial)
December 13, 2004... The extensive hoopla, fanfare and media coverage over the recent Sears-Kmart merger was in many ways an overreaction to a ho-hum retail acquisition. Yet with the long, rich history of these two venerable retailers as well as all the...

Wal-Mart international.(Cover Story)
December 13, 2004... When Wal-Mart needed a chief operating officer to ensure the smooth integration of 118 Bompreco stores in Brazil it acquired from Ahold earlier this year it looked north to Mexico and found Javier Ezeta. He had been running Wal-Mart Mexico's...

International gains predicted, but hard to define.(Wal-Mart International)
December 13, 2004... Although largely overshadowed by an incredibly strong business in the United States, Wal-Mart's international operations continue to be a powerful contributor to the company's top and bottom lines. Sales for the current fiscal year ending...

In-sourcing the role of the middleman.(Global Procurement)
December 13, 2004... Any look at Wal-Mart's international business understandably involves an assessment of its performance in individual countries as well as the potential to expand in new and existing markets through acquisitions. However, overlooked in all the...

Accelerated product evaluation program.(OnSpeX organises program for retailers)
December 13, 2004... Get Products To Market Faster The new 10-day Accelerated Product Evaluation Program from OnSpeX provides you with an early, expert opinion on how a new or redesigned product will fare during certification and performance testing. This...

Overseas reputation diligently guarded to avoid repeating domestic disputes.(The Image Battle)
December 13, 2004... Wal-Mart is a company that prides itself on a process known as correction of errors, which explains why the international division is not waiting for a second chance to make a first impression. In general, Wal-Mart has not experienced...

Ten things every supplier should know.(Working With A Global Powerhouse)
December 13, 2004... Doing business with Wal-Mart International is in many respects the same as doing business with Wal-Mart domestically. Suppliers should know that many of the same principles apply. Of course, there are some basics that extend throughout the...

By George, Canada embraces Wal-Mart--and vice versa.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... The next step in Wal-Mart's advance in Canada has a name and that name is George. The retailer has added a new look to its discount stores and Sam's Clubs, but George, the retailer's private label apparel line, is the vehicle that the company...

Tapping Puerto Rico's cache of riches.(Puerto Rico)
December 13, 2004... Puerto Rico, in its literal translation from the Spanish, means "rich port," and that is exactly the kind of haven it has proven to be for retailers on this small island. With a Gross Domestic Product of $74.4 billion (U.S.) and a per capita...

ASDA advance stirs United Kingdom retail.(ASDA Group PLC)
December 13, 2004... Retailing has been gaining momentum in the United Kingdom, although more slowly of late than it was a couple of years ago. Competition is tough and mergers and acquisitions frequent, much of it generated by the growth initiatives of...

Cracking the German code not so easy this time around.(retail trade prospects)
December 13, 2004... Throughout history, Germany has posed many a stumbling block to the world, and the mighty Wal-Mart is no exception. For all its success across the globe, the central European stalwart has stymied this power retailer, which continues to inch...

Rapidly growing marketplace shapes personnel, marketing strategies.(Chinese market)
December 13, 2004... The level of construction activity in China is one of the most striking reminders that the world's most populous nation also has the fastest-growing economy. Construction cranes are visible from virtually anywhere in Shenzhen, Wuhan or...

Japan's Seiyu reinventing itself using Wal-Mart best practices.(Seiyu Ltd.)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... After becoming the major stakeholder in a floundering Seiyu in 2002. Wal-Mart has fought an uphill battle in Japan. Ever since Toys "R" Us entered the Japanese market in 1991, a dozen or so other foreign-affiliated retailers followed suit....

Mass merchant breaks new ground in profitable South Korea market.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... South Korea has long been allied with the United States, so it made sense that America's biggest retailer would see if that camaraderie extended to consumers' wallets. The fact that the Republic of Korea, while relatively diminutive in terms...

Bompreco purchase raises profile in Brazil.(Brazil)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. market share increased after acquiring Bompreco S.A. Supermercados do Nordeste)
December 13, 2004... Opening stores overseas can be risky business and that's particularly true in South America, where countries like Peru and Argentina have long histories of political and economic instability. But for Wal-Mart, its business in Brazil is...

Waiting out the Argentine economy.(Argentina)
December 13, 2004... Wal-Mart has maintained a slow-growth approach in Argentina since it opened for business there in 1995 and it currently has just 11 supercenters for a market of 39 million. And Wal-Mart plans to maintain that cautious approach, given the...

India, Russia prime contenders for future international efforts.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... What is a potential future market for Wal-Mart? The simple answer is anywhere it does not currently operate stores. But in truth, there are several large and growing economies the retailer has set its sights on as it continues its march...

Blockbuster ups ante for Hollywood.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... DALLAS -- Blockbuster recently confirmed its willingness to increase its potential acquisition price for Hollywood Entertainment above the prior bid price of $11.50 per share. However, the increase is subject to Blockbuster's review of...

Toy Soldiers march again in New York.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK -- FAO Schwarz reopened here last month, just in time for Black Friday. The company, which was revived by investment firm D.E. Shaw, was given a new lease on life following last year's dismal post-holiday liquidation. D.E. Shaw...

Sun Capital acquires Rag Shops.(Sun Capital Partners Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... HAWTHORNE, N.J. -- Sun Capital Partners announced that it has acquired Rag Shops, a 69-location retail chain offering a wide selection of value-priced crafts, fabrics, floral, framing and related merchandise.

SEC files suit against ex-Kmart execs.(Market Watch)(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil fraud charges against three former Kmart executives and five current and former managers of vendors, saying they collaborated in creating a $24 million accounting fraud. The SEC...

The Gap in "Love" with accessories.
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK -- The Gap is enamored with its best-selling accessories assortment to the point that it has recently opened a new retail shop, Love, to showcase the category. An 800-squarefoot unit opened on Nov. 18, 2004, in Manhattan just in time...

Letter from the editor.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 13, 2004... Since the inaugural issue in June of Connecting Northwest Arkansas: A Supplier Resource Quarterly, the retail community in and around Bentonville has seen its share of milestones. Wal-Mart again announced record growth plans for the coming...

The other side of the Wal-Mart story: what we see.
December 13, 2004... Media coverage of Wal-Mart has reached such proportions that in the span of one week last month two separate documentaries on the company aired and Fortune ran a 16-page cover story on the Walton family. Add to that a New York Times piece...

Professional relationships thriving in Arkansas.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... To understand the unique culture that drives professional and social relationships in Bentonville and northwest Arkansas, you really have to know the history of Wal-Mart, and the history of the area which Wal-Mart calls home: From the...

Fair paves way for new suppliers.(New in NWA)(Northwest Arkansas, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
December 13, 2004... Although the event is still five months away, for new suppliers interested in establishing a relationship with Wal-Mart it is not too soon to begin preparations for the third annual Wal-Mart New Supplier Fair. The event, which will be...

Smaller suppliers bullish on RFID.(Radio Frequency Identification)
December 13, 2004... Why wait? That's the question decision-makers at Jack Link's Beef Jerky and Beaver Street Fisheries asked themselves regarding the implementation of electronic product codes and radio frequency identification technology. Neither company...

XNA ramps up growth as fliers top 500,000.(Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport)
December 13, 2004... Remember the good old days when traveling to or from northwest Arkansas meant choosing between a two-hour drive to Tulsa or risking a weather-related delay at the airport south of Fayetteville. It may seem like a long time ago, but it was...

Wal-Mart gears up for rapid rollout.(New in NWA)
December 13, 2004... Wal-Mart next month will cap off current year expansion plans with approximately 50 store openings before undertaking an unprecedented growth plan during the fiscal year that begins Feb. 1, 2005. Wal-Mart has announced a capital budget of...

Adding excitement to the in-store experience.(Service Provider Focus)
December 13, 2004... If Wal-Mart stores seem increasingly dynamic and engaging it could be due to a subtle change the company made two years ago that has altered the in-store experience for many customers. Now, when shoppers roam the aisles chances are good...

International expansion equals opportunity for suppliers.(Going global)(Wal-Mart International Div.)
December 13, 2004... Of all the factors that have gone into making Wal-Mart a successful company, clearly one of the most significant is an ability to peer into the future and make strategic decisions that position the company for long-term growth. It is an...

Evolving partnership built on solid foundation: Scott Halliburton is a senior key account manager with the Anheuser-Busch Wal-Mart team based in Bentonville.(Supply Side)(Interview)
December 13, 2004... DSNRT: WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE ON THE MINDS OF SUPPLIERS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS? SH: A key issue is the number of suppliers moving into northwest Arkansas, the increased competition and how you go to market with Wal-Mart. As far...

NWA directory.(Directory)
December 13, 2004... ADVERTISING AGENCIES DIRECTORIES, SPECIALTIES, ETC. ATTENTION TO DETAIL MARKETING & CONSULTING 12707 Pleasure Heights Rd., Lowell, AR 72745 479-750-8685 Joe Massey, Owner joe@atdmarketing.com www.atdmarketing.com...

People & events.(Calendar)
December 13, 2004... JANUARY Jan. 6 Wal-Mart releases December sales. Jan. 12 BBV Chamber of Commerce Champion members coffee hour; speaker, Matt Kistler, vp product development Sam's Club Jan. 16-19 National Retail Federation Annual Convention 19...