DSN Retailing Today articles from June 2000

DSN Retailing Today archives from June 2000

Wal-Mart 'imagines' even greater growth: Food, Web, International to lead sales beyond $200 b.(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. -- Even though more than $100 billion in sales volume already separates Wal-Mart from its closest competitor, a dozen of the retailer's senior executives shared their vision of how to further widen that gap with the 17,000...

Wal-Mart 'imagines' even greater growth: New dot.com president delivers picture of on-line 'possibilities'.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. -- With a curious pink lunch box in hand, Wal-Mart.com president and ceo Jeanne Jackson stepped on stage at the retailer's shareholders' meeting to deliver highly anticipated remarks on the future of Wal-Mart's online...

TRU's Eyler unveils new format.(Toys R Us, John Eyler)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... NEW YORK -- Speaking at his first annual meeting since joining Toys "R" Us as president and ceo in January, John Eyler gave shareholders on June 7 a preview of the newest flourishes for its generation C3 stores, as well as exclusive new...

Kmart's Rx is found at CVS.(Charles Conaway)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... TROY, MICH -- On the heals of completing a three-year store facelift and redirecting considerable resources to infrastructure, e-commerce and replenishment, Kmart hopes to complete the last piece of the turnaround puzzle following the hiring...

ShopKo picks up Places for Pamida.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... GREEN BAY, WIS. -- ShopKo Stores has signed a letter of intent to acquire tiny P.M. Place Stores Co., a privately held retail chain based in Bethany, Mo. The acquisition is intended to help fuel growth of its Pamida format--possibly growing...

RadioShack delivers on growth--allies with RCA; plans new format.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FT. WORTH -- It's been a big month for RadioShack: a corporate name change, the roll-out of the RCA Digital Entertainment Centers in 5,000 stores and the announcement that the company plans to test a new, larger prototype. Chairman,...

Wal-Mart sells shares.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart reported in a federal filing eleven days ago that it had sold a block of 10.8 million shares to two "unnamed offshore investors," for a total of $582 million. According to the company, the proceeds will be used...

Cisco's ceo joins Wal-Mart board.(John Chambers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart's 15 member board of directors gained considerable technology and Internet expertise with the recent addition of John Chambers, 50, president and ceo of Cisco Systems. Since assuming his current responsibilities...

Kohl's to raise funds.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... MENOMONEE FALLS, Wrs. -- Kohl's Corp. plans to raise approximately $300 million through an offering of zero-coupon convertible subordinated debentures to qualified institutional investors. The company said in a statement that it intends to...

Venator Group posts gains.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- The mood was upbeat at Venator Group's annual shareholder meeting ten days ago as dale Hilpert, chairman and ceo told attendees that the company is well positioned to achieve profit growth. For the FY99 ended Jan. 29, 2000,...

Nordstrom.com targets male shoppers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... SEATTLE -- Nordstrom introduced expanded Menswear offering and services available through its Web site, Nordstrom.com. The on-line men's business casual guide mirrors the company's offerings for women and guides men through the retailers...

TSA to shareholders: Patience will lead to profit equation.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.-- "Modest profitability" is the new outlook at The Sports Authority. A goal it hopes to achieve by fiscal yearend, and one it is scrambling to achieve through improved store merchandising, marketing and operations. As...

Bradlees benefits from '99 upgrades.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... DEDHAM, MASS. -- Bradlees is poised to return to profitability by year's end as it modernizes its distribution system with more efficient and effective logistics to give its bottom line a much-needed boost. Peter Thorner, chairman and...

Dollar General's growth justifes expenditures.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... GOODLETTSVILLE, TENN. -- Dollar General is becoming an efficiently run sales machine. Smart investments in stores, distribution and technology are positioning the chain for long-term profitability. Rapid growth necessitated capital...

DSN CHARTS: May sales.
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

All Candy Expo in Chicago exposes market's new delights.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... CHICAGO -- Edible chocolate artwork. Make-your-own candy kits. The world's largest gumball. Chocolate-covered gummy bears. Skull-head lollipops that "scream" as they're eaten. These are but a few of the new treats that will be competing for a...

Lowe's to keep focus on high-end product.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... DSN NATIONWIDE REPORT -- Lowe's Cos., the world's second largest home improvement chain, said it will continue to focus on mid- and high-end products in its stores because of customers' willingness to trade-up to better quality items. ...

Home Depot unveils e-strategy, refines stores and product.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... Las Vegas market first test of Internet strategy ATLANTA -- As dozens of pure-play and bricks-and-mortar hardware retailers rushed to begin selling on line last year, Home Depot waited patiently, plotting its e-commerce strategy. Now the...

Staple unveils fourth airport store.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- Staples fourth airport store is scheduled to open in July at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The store will offer three shopping methods, including an assortment of on-site products, a kiosk linked to Staples.com...

FTC stops grocery acquisition.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators put a stop to Kroger Co.'s attempt to acquire the Texas and Oklahoma stores owned by Winn Dixie. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocery chain had hoped to unload 74 stores to Kroger to help in its restructuring,...

AutoZone to buy back stock.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... MEMPHIS, TENN. -- Autozone's board of directors have approved the repurchase of up to an additional $250 million of the company's common stock in the open market. This brings the company's total repurchase authorization to $1.25 billion....

Circuit City sales flat, stock drops.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... RICHMOND, VA. -- Circuit City's stock dove 24% in a single day after the retailer warned that sales and gross margins would be weak for the first quarter of FY00, ended May 31, 2000. At press time, the retailer had yet to announce earnings,...

Zany Brainy gets nod for Noodle deal.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. -- The Federal Trade Commission gave Zany Brainy the go ahead to complete its acquisition of Noodle Kidoodle. The commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Although the...

Public TV offers High Tech Home.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy, Compaq and Microsoft are teaming up to sponsor a new home improvement series on Public Television. Dubbed "High Tech Home," the weekly half-hour series will debut this summer, showcasing home technology. The initial...

TJX ambitious in 2000 growth plan.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... BOSTON -- In the throes of an unprecedented growth spurt, TJX Cos. is laying the groundwork for expansion in all six of its divisions-- an ambitious plan that's unrivaled in the off-price apparel/home fashions market. Edmond "Ted"...

Jo-Ann stitches together e-strategy, enters unchartered on-line market.(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... HUDSON, OHIO -- Jo-Ann Stores will begin selling products on its Web site this fall through a strategic partnership with Idea Forest.com, an Internet startup devoted to arts and crafts supplies and information. Expansion into e-commerce...

Value City's acquisition strategy expands presence to new markets.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- As Value City nears its fiscal year mid-point, the off-pricer is riding a wave of slow but steady growth it has culled from synergies between its key concepts. Its niche marketing strategy over the past five years has driven...

INSIDER TRADES.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- The following are major insider trades as reported to the SEC. STOCKS BOUGHT One Price Clothing: Renee Love, director, bought 5,000 shares on April 13 at $3.50, now owns 5,000 shares. PetsMart: Robert...

RETAIL IPO SCOREBOARD.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

MAJOR INDICES.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

TOP GAINERS & TOP LOSERS.
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

EARNINGS DIGEST.
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

DSN RETAILING TODAY STOCK ANALYSIS.
June 19, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Recommendations for retail readers.
June 19, 2000... Although most retailers are already thinking back-to-school and Holiday 2000, the official start of summer is just about here and that means my annual Reading List. This year I have tailored a list based on the key topics the typical retail...

Confessions of a dot.com customer.
June 19, 2000... I've decided to come out of the closet and admit to the world that I am a traitor to my industry. I've been shopping on line--and not just for books and music. I shop for gifts, clothes and everyday necessities that could easily be found at...

E-commerce adds fuel to privacy fire.
June 19, 2000... Finding a way to regulate e-commerce has been an elusive goal for government regulators. Even the relatively straightforward issue of how to fairly tax retail sales on the Internet has twisted federal and state policy makers into knots. ...

Is true retail ERP available?(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... The increasing speed with which life in the retail world changes requires merchants to be much more agile and responsive than in the past. Indeed, in one of our recent surveys, we identified "enabling the company to respond quickly to...

Tandy Corp.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Goodbye Tandy. Hello RadioShack. The venerable retail name of Tandy Corp. is now gone forever, as the retailer officially began trading under its new title, RadioShack Corp. on May 31. In the works for years, the name change was finally voted...

Crazy Eddie.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... Gone but not forgotten. Crazy Eddie made news again last month when a federal judge awarded shareholders $72.7 million from three of the chain's principal owners who engaged in stock fraud. This amount is in addition to the $120 million...

Webvan.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Consumers can pick up a $1200 digital camcorder to go with that loaf of bread now that Webvan is entering the CE market. The grocery e-tailer is adding the category to its group of on-line "Specialty Shops" and will feature brand name CE...

Amazon.com.(first online store to carry Handspring Visors)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Amazon.com became the first on-line retailer to carry Handspring Visors two weeks ago. The newly released and already popular PDA's are selling like crazy, claiming the title of top-selling palm device during the first weeks in retail stores,...

Best Buy.(hires Steven Lee)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Steven Lee joined Best Buy three weeks ago in the newly created position of vp of emerging consumer solutions in the Digital Technology Solutions Group. Lee previously served as president at Canorus Inc., an international marketing services...

Satellite Radio.(services prepare for launch)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... It's the first new innovation to hit the radio-waves since FM stations came on in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and proponents are promising to revolutionize the business. After more than two years of drumming up interest while the...

Custom TV takes next step.(forecasts for interactive TV)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... The development of interactive TV continues to roll steadily along, with manufacturers forming partnerships, enhancing content and services, and piquing consumer interest. But emerging technologies are tough ones for retailers to plan...

CVS.(launches its own bath and body brand)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... CVS has ramped up its private label efforts with the recent launch of an exclusive fruit-scented and aromatherapy-based bath and body brand, Essence of Beauty. The new brand includes 75 individual products--from bath gels to foot...

Walgreens Health Initiatives.(utilizes Systems Xcellence software)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Walgreens Health Initiatives (WHI), a subsidiary of Walgreen Co, recently began processing claims using a new proprietary system. The customized claims processing technology is based on the HX-PBS system developed by Systems Xcellence Inc.,...

Coty Inc.(Stetson revenue given to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Coty Inc.'s Stetson Cologne recently announced a commitment to donate a percentage of revenue to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for every Stetson product sold through June. Stetson Cologne has guaranteed a donation of at least $100,000 to the...

BCI.(begins My Secrets eyewear campaign)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... BCI is making strides in the specialty eyewear category, and recently began a campaign for its My Secrets line in response to consumer interest in unique styles for OTC reading glasses. The manufacturer is also introducing a line of My...

Vistakon.(receives environmental awards)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Vistakon, the manufacturer of Acuvue contact lenses and a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., has been honored on both the state and local levels for environmental and sustainable development. Vistakon received the top honors from...

Latino Beauty.(Spanish language online magazine Mujer)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... When Internet retailing took off in the mid- '90s, the Spanish-speaking community was far from top of mind. In fact, many Spanish-speaking sites--especially those based in the United States--have struggled to play catch up over the last few...

Vitamin business healthy in '99, except when compared to '98.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... Nineteen ninety-eight was a tough act to follow in the natural health business, so tough that the category's moderate success just one year later pales in comparison--and consequently is viewed as somewhat of a failure. The category,...

Joint and bone care strengthens total sales.(health supplements business)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... The handful of moderate success stories on the herbal side of the natural health business were not enough to sustain overall growth in the category. Propelling the category forward in 1999 were the joint and bone care-related supplements,...

Mass OTC sales curved upwards in 1999.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 19, 2000... Charged by innovative new product launches in some of the high-volume segments of the business, mass retail sales for the 25 major OTC categories, as tracked by Information Resources Inc., climbed to more than $21.79 billion last year. ...

Toys "R" Us Inc.(online business opens new offices)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Toys "R" Us Inc.'s Internet business, Toysrus.com, has announced the opening of new offices in Fort Lee, N.J., and the San Francisco Bay area--both to open by the end of the summer. The openings are expected to double the number of employees...

DSI Toys Inc.(only toy maker on the Houston Chronicle top 100)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... DSI Toys Inc. has been singled out by The Houston Chronicle as the only toy manufacturer in the annual "Chronicle 100," a list highlighting the area's leading publicly owned companies. Criteria for the list include four key performance...

OshKosh B'Gosh.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... OshKosh B'Gosh has announced a new business yenture with Toys "R" Us to produce an exclusive line of children's toys. The new line is designed for children from birth to age 9 and includes non-collectible dolls, developmental toys, such as...

Warner Bros. Consumer Products.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Warner Bros. Consumer Products has awarded Flying Colors, a division of JAKKS Pacific Inc., the licensing rights to develop a line of crafts and activities products based on the literary phenomenon Harry Potter, the central character in a...

Haystack Toys Inc.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Haystack Toys Inc. has announced the launch of the second annual Great American Toy Hunt, a nationwide search for "needles in the haystack"--toys that are "so ingenious and involving they withstand the test of time." The Hunt consists of a...

On-the-go fun.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Branding synergies between the automobile industry and on-board peripherals manufacturers are reaching new heights. The latest players to test drive this concept are Johnson Controls and Lego. The Lego PlaySeat activity center is an...

Virtual toys gear up to take bite out of high-tech market.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... For anyone who thought Furby would be a short-lived novelty, think again. Robotic dogs, an egg that hatches a trainable baby dinosaur and an interactive Yoda are a few of the newest toys to pick up where Furby left off. In hot demand,...

Target Stores.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Target Stores has awarded Vivitar a Vendor Award for Excellence for its contribution to the retailer's camera department during 1999. The award honors vendors that support Target in key areas, including contributing to sales growth and...

Wolf Camera.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Wolf Camera has teamed up with Outpost.com to form an e-commerce partnership. The alliance calls for Outpost to develop, maintain and manage the new Web store, with Wolf providing the photography products and digital-fulfillment services,...

Kodak.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Kodak announced it has acquired the outstanding shares of Picture Vision, giving it a 100% stake in the on-line digital-imaging company. Prior to this, PictureVision operated as a majority-owned subsidiary of Kodak after a 51% stake was...

The Photo Marketing Association.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... The Photo Marketing Association reports that its annual trade show and convention held in Las Vegas was a record breaker. The event attracted more than 30,500 attendees and 750 exhibitors, encompassing more exhibition space than any previous...

Concord Camera.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Gerald Angeli has joined Concord Camera as vp of original equipment manufacture (OEM) product supply Angeli will be responsible for the OEM business, managing and coordinating Concord's U.S. product development efforts. He has previously held...

The Brownie.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... The world's first mass-market photography product turns 100 years old this year, and it does so just in time for the industry's next mass market evolution into digital imaging. "The early dawn of the 20th century is ushered in with a new...

Digital imaging catches on, despite glitches, roadblocks.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... It's a fairly straightforward proposition for consumers: simply drop off a roll of film for developing at the local processing center; check one little box and presto, you've got digital images in addition to traditional prints. Not only...

Macrovision Corporation.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Macrovision Corporation, the leading provider of video, multimedia and software copy protection, as well as digital rights management technologies, announced the implementation of its copy protection technology for higher resolution DVD...

Universal Studios Home Video.
June 19, 2000... Universal Studios Home Video's "Man on the Moon," the Andy Kaufman biopic that garnered a best actor Golden Globe award for Jim Carrey, has apparently gained increasing respect with the video renting public. While the comic tragedy generated...

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., a Canadian film company, has acquired Los Angeles-based moviemaker Trimark Holdings Inc. for $50 million in cash and stock. The deal significantly boosts Lions Gate's presence in video distribution.

AtomFilms.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... AtomFilms is entering into a deal with Block-buster.com that calls for the inclusion of Netcaster's short films on the video-rental giant's Web site. The companies will launch Short Takes on each of their respective sites featuring five new...

MARCAN Inc.(introduces DVD-R duplication system)(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... MARCAN Inc., a leading DVD and CD solutions provider, is rolling out its Rimage Producer 2000 Protege DVD-R duplication system. The system was a recent winner of the "Best of AIIM" award.

Viacom Inc.
June 19, 2000... Blockbuster Inc. has announced the election of Mel Karmazin to its board of directors. Karmazin is president and coo of New York-based Viacom Inc., and was formerly president/ceo of CBS. Karmazin is ranked No. 1 in Radio Ink magazine's annual...

DVD Innovations.
June 19, 2000... Just as DVD is beginning to take a strangle hold on the consumer video and audio industry, a new generation of hardware innovations is coming to market that is bound to notch things up a bit. Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. comes to the forefront of...

Animated titles benefit from pre-video success.
June 19, 2000... With the success and notoriety that animation has secured in popular culture, top players in the home video industry are finding it easier to market their latest animated titles. In the late 1990s, animation began to redefine what it...

Tweety leads Warner Home Video strategy.(Brief Article)
June 19, 2000... Warner Home Video is harnessing the power of never-before-seen animated home video titles. Over the next few months, in an attempt to reignite the Looney Tunes Adventures that families have consistently enjoyed for almost a century, Warner...

Meijer introduces 'Village' format with smaller marketplace style.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... RICHMOND, IND. -- The latest wave of supercenter openings in the Midwest by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer reaffirms the retailer's reputation for innovative ideas in this hybrid combo channel of retailing. The three new prototype...

Kmart's Hall outlines need for growth, leader.(Floyd Hall)(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... DSN NATIONWIDE REPORT -- As Kmart nears the end of its chainwide face lift, which began in early 1997 with the ambitious $1.1 billion conversion plan of roughly 2,000 discount stores, the company stands on the threshold of an era filled with...

Target.com follows in footsteps of careful parent.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... LOS ANGELES -- Gerald Storch, president of credit and new business at Target Corp., gave attendees at the Consumer Electronics Association's Business Solutions Series conference two weeks ago a rare glimpse into the retailer's on-line...

Target touts growth at annual meeting.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 5, 2000... MINNEAPOLIS -- It was business as usual at Target Corp.'s annual meeting three weeks ago. Amid the announcement of yet another year of record growth in both sales and earnings, several common themes--albeit subtle ones--stood out as reminders...

PriceSmart stakes claim to out-of-way foreign markets.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... SAN DIEGO -- The Price family, pioneers in the membership club industry, are quietly building a warehouse club empire in the under-developed markets of Central America, the Caribbean, and East Asia, with their latest club warehouse...

DSN announces marquee conference.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... The Presidents' Symposium scheduled for late August in New York City NEW YORK -- The Fourth Annual Presidents' Symposium on Mass Retailing, sponsored by DSN Retailing Today, will feature an impressive list of influential speakers from...

Sears Canada call center to close next December.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- Internet sales cutting into catalog orders will result in Sears Canada Inc. closing a call center in December that employs 820 people. "With our Internet sales expected to grow to $650 million (US$435.5 million) a...

IMRA gives thumbs up to China trade status.(International Mass Retail Association)(Brief Article)
June 5, 2000... ARLINGTON, VA. -- The International Mass Retail Association (IMRA) issued a statement late last month commending Congress for voting in favor of granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR). The decision, IMRA said, will benefit...