DSN Retailing Today articles from March 2002

DSN Retailing Today archives from March 2002

With ceo Conaway out, Kmart turns page, again.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... TROY, MICH. -- New leadership likely will mean more sweeping changes for Kmart as the retailer struggles to emerge from bankruptcy, with turnaround veteran Jim Adamson putting into action his own vision for the company. Adamson's...

Kmart store closings first step to recovery.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... TROY, MICE. -- Kmart's decision to close 284 of its 2,114 stores may be the tip of the iceberg as the retailer develops a strategy to emerge from bankruptcy. A new strategic positioning, which chairman and ceo Jim Adamson recently said he...

Wal-Mart invests in Japan, buys 6% share of Seiyu.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart is poised to become one of Japan's major food and general merchandise retailers should it follow through on a uniquely structured deal that gives it the option to acquire a majority interest in the Seiyu Ltd....

Bed Bath & Beyond taps HBC through Harmon acquisition.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... UNION, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond may be on the verge of entering the health and beauty care consumables business. In a surprise move earlier this month, the big-box home goods retailer acquired 27-unit Harmon Discount, a cosmetics and HBC...

Kohl's increases its efforts to highlight dept. store labels.(market share growth strategy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. -- Kohl's intentions of grabbing market share from the ailing department store segment have been a success so far, and now the company intends to turn up the heat. In a conference call on March 5, Kohl's executives...

Wall Street gets bullish on Costco.(retail analysts upgrade Costco Corp. security ratings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... ISSAQUAH, WASH. --Retail analysts are bullish on future prospects for Costco Corp. after the warehouse retailer posted another strong quarter of solid earnings and increased same store sales. Merrill Lynch upgraded Costco's rating to...

DSNRT to host Wal-Mart event.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... NEW YORK -- DSN Retailing Today, in conjunction with sister publication Drug Store News, is hosting "Breaking into Wal-Mart," an educational conference designed to help suppliers establish and/or improve relationships with the world's most...

New Target stores showcase merchandising exploits.(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- If it's the second Sunday in March, it must be grand opening day for Target Stores. As predictable as the changing of the seasons, the nation's third largest discount retailer comes through each spring with a new...

Fred's nears $1bil. Mark: Regional to open 60 stores in '02.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... MEMPHIS -- Southeast regional Fred's Inc. capped off a strong fiscal year revenue report with news of renewed optimism for the year to come. After posting record sales that put this general merchandise discounter within spitting distance of...

TSA, Gart cheer solid gains: Results hint of sector rebound.(The Sports Authority and Gart Sports report revenue gains)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., AND DENVER, COLO. -- The nation's two largest sporting goods retailers, The Sports Authority and Gart Sports, cheered solid performances amid last year's difficult economic climate and are sounding an optimistic tone on...

Office supply chains bullish on future.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... NEW YORK -- As unemployment rates rose during the latter half of 2001, sales at office supply superstores slid downward. Yet despite this reduced demand in the category, the major office supply players are remaining bullish for the immediate...

Amazon.com seeking new cfo. (Market Watch).(following Warren Jenson resignation)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... SEATTLE -- The search is on for a new cfo at Amazon.com following the resignation of Warren Jenson, who held the position for the past 2-1/2 years. Jenson's decision to leave Amazon raised eyebrows because he owns no shares of Amazon, and he...

Sears Canada veteran steps down. (Market Watch).(William Turner retires from Sears Canada)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... TORONTO -- Retail veteran William Turner has retired as president of merchandising, marketing and logistics at Sears Canada. Turner, who spent 36 years with Sears Canada, began his career as a management trainee in Ottawa, Ontario. Sears...

Winn-Dixie introduces loyalty program. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - The Winn-Dixie supermarket chain is the latest retailer to institute a customer loyalty program. The program, which began in early March at stores in Florida and Georgia, allows customers to save money on merchandise,...

Powerful lineup on tap for UF event. (Market Watch).(University of Florida's Retailing Smarter symposium)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... GAINSVILLE, FLA. -- Robert Rogers, president of The Great Indoors, and Nordstrom president Pete Nordstrom are among the speakers at the University of Florida's annual Retailing Smarter symposium in Orlando, Fla., June 10 to 11. Other...

Albertson's restructuring moves ahead; exits some Southern markets. (Market Watch).(announces store closings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... BOISE, IDAHO -- Albertson's is calling it quits in Houston, San Antonio and Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., markets, where it plans to close or sell stores producing annual volume of $1.3 billion. The supermarket operator in mid-March said...

Big Lots bags Ames' Bachmann. (Market Watch).(Lisa Bachmann appointed senior vp of merchandise planning)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- The 1,300-store Big Lots closeout chain hired Lisa Bachmann as senior vp of merchandise planning, allocation and presentation. She previously served as senior vp of planning and allocation at Ames Department Stores. In her...

Michaels names new Canadian vp. (Market Watch).(Michaels Stores Inc., Tom Making)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... IRVING, TEXAS -- Michaels Stores has created a new store zone along Canada's southern border and has named Tom Making vp of the company's 130 stores in western Canada and the northwestern United States. Making joined Michaels as district...

Global Sports finishes Ashford.com buy. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. -- Global Sports Inc. has completed its acquisition of Ashford.com following approval by Ashford.com's shareholders, under which Ashford.com shareholders will receive 0.0076 of a share of Global Sports common stock and...

Seafood vendors drop anchor in Boston to fish for profit-generating ideas: Most agree current economic models won't stay afloat.(International Boston Seafood Show)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... BOSTON -- The International Boston Seafood Show, held March 12 to 14, demonstrated that seafood retailing in the United States is undergoing significant change and may well be in store for farther metamorphosis. For now, this change is driven...

NARM refocuses as Internet services take toll on music industry sales.(National Association of Recording Merchandisers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Music retailers and distributors were in a blue mood at the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) convention March 9 to 12 as they searched for ways to pull the industry out of its slump. Industry leaders...

Albertsons.com clicks with Bay Area. (e-Watch).(online grocery orders available)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... SAN LEANDRO, CALIF. -- Albertsons.com has extended its reach. On March 20, the Internet arm of the food and drug retailer began accepting online grocery orders from five additional Bay Areas, covering 180 zip codes in Santa Clara, San Mateo,...

Drugstore.com announces Baby Store. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... BELLEVUE, CALIF. -- From folic acid to baby wipes, drugstore.com is getting ready this summer for what is expected to be a baby boom across the nation. The online retailer of prescription drugs and health, beauty and wellness products...

Circuit City buys out online rival 800.com. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... RICHMOND, VA. -- Since March 1, shoppers of 800.com have discovered that their Web browsers are taking a detour and being automatically rerouted to circuitcity.com. The change comes after Circuit City, the No. 2 consumer electronics retailer,...

Meijer's new system keeps tabs on trucks. (e-Watch).(WhereNet Corp. inventory system)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -- In an effort to operate more efficiently, grocery and general merchandise retailer Meijer Inc. has adopted a trailer status and yard management software system to keep tabs on their loads. The system, by WhereNet Corp.,...

Dot.com best practices beget new level of in-store technology.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- Since the storied dot-com implosion that wrought havoc on both the technology sector and the overall U.S. economy, retailers have been sifting through the dust in search of a silver lining. Now, after more than a...

Finance Watch.(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... INSIDER TRADES NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- The following are major insider trades as reported to the SEC. STOCKS BOUGHT AutoZone: Andrew McKenna, director, bought 2,000 shares on Feb. 28 at $66.25, now owns 14,000 shares. ...

The values of online retailing keep on clicking. (Editorial).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 25, 2002... While the publicity and coverage of the dot-com world of retailing has diminished significantly, the importance of online retailing hasn't. What was once a market dominated by high-flying, big-talking entrepreneurs all trying to cash in...

Lifestyle imaging doesn't always meet the discount need. (Viewpoint).(stores copying Target Corp. advertising)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 25, 2002... Wouldn't it be nice, just once, to be a fly on the wall of a Madison Avenue think tank responsible for developing today's retail lifestyle advertisements. You can almost hear the sales pitch as they convince their clients to buy into their...

IMRA's "unsung heroes". (Guest Column).(Industrial Manufacturers' Representatives Association, Supplier Member Board)(Brief Article)(Column)
March 25, 2002... What do AAi Foster Grant, American Greetings, Coca-Cola, COELIMA, Colgate-Palmolive, Del Pharmaceuticals, Eastman Kodak, Energizer, Fiskars, Fuji, Gillette, Hallmark Cards, Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, HMG Worldwide, Manco, Maxell, Neuville...

The benefits of frequent shopper clubs. (Guest Column).(market research results)(Brief Article)(Column)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... Regardless of the economy, Roper research shows that Americans consistently seek the best price for their money. Frequent shopper clubs are an increasingly popular way for consumers to feel they are getting a good deal, and for retailers to...

J&R Music and Computer World. (Retailer News).(opens camera and digital imaging store)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... J&R Music and Computer World may have been slowed down by the events of 9/11--after which J&R, located in lower Manhattan, was closed until mid-November--but it certainly didn't sit on its heels. Last month, the family owned business opened...

Wal-Mart. (Retailer News).(launches consumer education campaign)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Wal-Mart has launched a consumer education campaign to promote digital print services aimed at making the transition from film to digital as easy as possible. A recent press release featured tips from Dave Rogers, vp of One-Hour Photo, on...

Electronic for Imaging. (Retailer News).(announces new PrintMe technology partnership agreements)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Electronic for Imaging has added several new partnerships to its PrintMe technology, including Canon, IBM, OfficeMax, Palm, Minolta, Sharp and Toshiba. Partnerships with Xerox, Adobe, Sir Speedy, Marriott and Yahoo were announced last fall....

Digital batteries. (What's Hot).(Panasonic Battery Group to offer nickel-zinc batteries for digital cameras)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... While digital cameras maybe the hottest new imaging product out there, the units eat batteries faster than a shutterbug can snap high-resolution images. Luckily for these power-hungry products and the consumers who use them, there are new...

As digital camera prices drop, meager margins raise red flag. (Photo).
March 25, 2002... Digital cameras have found their groove. After several years of fits and starts, digital camera technology has finally hit the sweet spot of price and quality necessary for it to really take off. The bad news is that the intense pricing...

Best Buy. (Retailer News).(Best Buy Company Inc., TiVo Inc. Series2 digital video recorder)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Starting in May, Best Buy will have an exclusive on sales of the new TiVo Series2 digital video recorder. The new-generation system currently retails for $399 and can store up to 60 hours of recorded programming, nearly twice the amount of...

DreamWorks Home Entertainment. (Vendor News).(Burger King Corp., Denny's Inc. campaign)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... DreamWorks Home Entertainment is teaming up with Burger King and Denny's in a campaign to repromote "Shrek" and several other animated titles. Starting in April, the promotion features a buy-one-get-one-free deal with Denny's that offers a...

Sony Computer Entertainment. (Vendor News).(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Sony Computer Entertainment is reducing prices on some of its older Playstation 2 games as part of a new greatest hits series. Games that have sold more than 400,000 units and have been in circulation for more than nine months will be priced...

Microsoft. (Vendor News).(Video Game of the Year for 2001 award)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Microsoft won its first major award in the video game arena this month when its hit game "Halo" was named Video Game of the Year for 2001. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences also honored "Grand Theft Auto III" for outstanding...

9/11 documentaries. (What's Hot).(Hearst Entertainment, Spectrum Entertainment release videos)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... With more than six months passed since the tragic events of Sept. 11, a new wave of documentaries that chronicle the terrorist attacks is making its way to video. The latest installment in 9/11 videos is "A Tribute to Heroes," which was...

Studios tie 2Q releases to recent box-office bonanzas. (Video & DVD).(upcoming releases)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... From box-office holiday hits to Oscar hopefuls, the slate of upcoming second quarter video and DVD releases promises to be monumental. And just in case home video fans need an added incentive to spark sales, some studios are signing with...

Console competition lowers opening price points. (Video & DVD).(video games, Microsoft Corp., Sony Corp., Nintendo Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... Competition among the video game industry's big three manufacturers is expected to spark a price war in the coming months that will lower the cost of at least two consoles. Nintendo made the first move in February when it slashed the price of...

Hot Topics. (Retailer News).(earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... Hot Topics' recent earnings report put to bed rumors of a precipitous decline in February sales that had its share price tumbling. Hot Topic didn't have a great February, with same store sales down about 1.4% in February, but rumors spoke of...

Footstar. (Retailer News).(earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 25, 2002... Footstar, which operates shoe departments in Kmart stores, won't be badly hurt by Kmart's proposed store closings. Footwear departments in the 284 closing stores produced $116.8 million of Footstar's total sales of $2.4 billion in fiscal year...

Sara Lee. (Vendor News).(Sara Lee Corp. moves intimate apparel business to Winston-Salem, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Sara Lee is consolidating its intimate apparel business, moving all operations to Winston-Salem, N.C. Subsequently, the company will close its Playtex packaging and distribution centers in Dover, Del.

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. (Executive News).(new appointments)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Carolyn Foreman has been appointed vp of soft lines at Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. Also, Michael Gottsegen was promoted to vp of retailer development, and Bill Kispert has joined the company as president of interactive...

Seamless hosiery. (What's Hot).(new fibers used in pantyhose)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... Maybe it all started with the Wonder Bra, but now intimates are seen not just as a foundation, but as the superstructure, as well. Today, bras and women's hosiery is expected to do a lot more than simply cover up. Foundation garments are...

Big three refocus lines to meet tweens' growing influence. (Apparel).(Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... With a children's apparel business that's seemingly strong at the discount level, many mass merchants are turning considerable time and energy toward the tween demographic in an effort to gain a foothold in a business that's traditionally...

Kmart Store Closings.(Kmart Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2002... KMART STORE CLOSINGS (BY NUMBER, STORE TYPE AND LOCATION) The following is the list of stores for which Kmart asked the bankruptcy court to give final approval for closing. (At press time, the scheduled hearing for court approval...

Circuit City restructures, spins off CarMax unit.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... RICHMOND, V.A. -- The middle of February took Circuit City on a wild ride, culminated on the 22nd by a closing share price of $16.55, an overnight drop of 30%, or nearly 46% less than its 52-week high of $31 reported only weeks earlier on...

New Toys 'R' Us division shakes up management.(newly created umbrella division, specialty business and international operations)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... PARAMUS, N.J. -- Two years into its much-publicized turnaround, leading toy retailer Toys "R" Us is making high-level changes to its corporate hierarchy as part of an ongoing strategy to streamline operations. The most significant development...

New Kmart image campaign revives the value message.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... TROY, MICH. -- Kmart's new brand positioning as a store that understands family values may strike an emotional chord with shoppers, but whether it boosts sales and aids efforts to emerge from bankruptcy is another issue. Three new...

Kmart debuts first non-character Disney line.(children's clothing)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK -- Kmart recently launched its Disney brand at a press conference in New York that featured singing, dancing and a lively new kids apparel line designed to appeal across age and ethnic groups. The clothing line had been rolling...

Anderson to head Best Buy: Departing founder Schulze to pass torch in June.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. -- After 35 years, Best Buy founder, chairman and ceo Richard Schulze is passing the torch of leadership effective June 30, when another Best Buy veteran, Brad Anderson, will assume the responsibilities of ceo. Schulze...

Canada's beloved Roots brand cashes in at Winter Olympics.(produces sporting wear for US, Canadian and UK teams)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... TORONTO -- Even before the recently concluded Winter Olympics, Roots, a Canadian manufacturer and retailer of athletic wear, expected big things from its outfitting of athletes representing Canada, the United States and Britain. But the...

Bear Stearns details retail initiatives: Conference highlights companies' growth strategies.(Bear Stearns' Eighth Annual Retail, Restaurant and Apparel Conference)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- At Bear Stearns' Eighth Annual Retail, Restaurant and Apparel Conference in New York, held Feb. 27 to March 1, executives discussed prospects of an array of companies, and, among them, Rodney McMullen, Kroger...

At Wal-Mart, tinkering is serious business: No merchandising detail is too small--even for the world's largest company.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... ST. GEORGE, UTAH, AND SARASOTA, FLA. -- Wal-Mart is undertaking the most aggressive expansion in its history this year and doing so with some new merchandising wrinkles that could benefit its already effective store formats. These recent...

Sears Canada ends Eatons experiment.(ending high-end department store business)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... TORONTO -- Sears Canada is exiting the high-end department store business, removing the Eatons banner from the last seven locations where it has flown, and effectively putting to rest the venerable Canadian retail icon. Sears will close...

Petco roars back into public sector.(Petco Animal Supplies initial public offering raises over $275 million)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Petco Animal Supplies roared back into the public arena last month raising more than $275 million in an IPO. Shares of Petco common stock gained 5.3% in the first day of trading on Feb. 22, closing at $20 after being offered at...

Home Depot's 4Q profit jumps 53%: Ceo Nardelli attributes spike to tighter operations.(4th-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... ATLANTA -- A determination to improve operating efficiency and explore new revenue opportunities paid off for The Home Depot last quarter, which celebrated a record 53% earnings gain despite the impact from the recession. The increase in...

Home Depot's 4Q profit jumps 53%: Quest for new customers expands merchandising concepts.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... DALLAS -- Even with the success of its traditional home center concept, The Home Depot has made an art out of tailoring formats to appeal to different customers. Recent store openings in the north Texas market showed off the retailer's...

Infusion of vintage styling fills trend void at MAGIC: Presenters opt for conservative over cutting edge.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- The MAGIC apparel show usually spells out upcoming trends so they're crystal clear. However, at the most recent installment of the semi-annual event, vendors conjured up rather conservative offerings, hoping to suit...

PMA highlights print kiosks, but digital imaging steals show.(Photo Marketing Association)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Digital imaging took center stage at this year's Photo Marketing Association's convention and trade show last month. In fact, nothing even came close to sharing the spotlight as the technology is now clearly positioned for...

Kmart keeps auditor, hires new consultant. (Market Watch).(PricewaterhouseCoopers; Ernst & Young)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... TROY, MICH. -- It looks like PricewaterhouseCoopers is losing its contract to provide Kmart with financial advisory services. The retailer is seeking bankruptcy court approval to hire Ernst & Young as its financial advisor and plans to retain...

PriceSmart resumes expansion. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- After delaying several projects in the wake of Sept. 11, PriceSmart plans to open six warehouse clubs this year, including its first two units in Mexico, two stores in the Philippines and one store each in Guam and Jamaica. The...

Office Depot to enter Central America. (Market Watch).(with Grupo Gigante)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK -- Office Depot and its Mexican joint venture partner Grupo Gigante plan to enter Costa Rica and Guatemala late this year with two stores in each country. Office Depot entered into the joint venture in 1994 and in 1995 opened its...

JCPenney tunes in RadioShack executive. (Market Watch).(RadioShack CEO Leonard Roberts named JC Penney board member)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... PLANO, TEXAS -- At least he won't have to travel far to attend board meetings. Leonard Roberts, chairman and ceo of Fort Worth, Texas-based RadioShack, is the newest board member at JCPenney, based in the Dallas suburb of Piano. He became...

Long-time Galyan's executive resigns. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... PLAINFIELD, IND. -- Galyan's Trading Company is looking for a new coo following the resignation of Joel Silverman, who served as president, coo and served on the board of the 26-store sporting goods and lifestyle retailer. Silverman's...

K*B Toys' new execs ready to play. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... PITTSFIELD, MASS. -- Mark Scott was named executive vp of K*B Toys, with an array of responsibilities that include merchandising, marketing, inventory management and store operations. He replaces Sal Vasta, who was named executive vp of...

Dollar Tree fine-tunes real estate strategy. (Market Watch).(Will use real estate software from Vectiv Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... CHESAPEAKE, VA. -- Dollar Tree selected a new real estate software program to manage its rapid growth. The 2,000-store chain said it would use Vectiv Corp.'s Strategic Real Estate Solution to support expansion plans and manage its existing...

Target caps off strong year. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target ended its fiscal year with a strong showing in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter profit increased 20.1% to $663 million from $552 million the prior year fourth quarter. Fourth quarter profits represented nearly 47% of...

Insider trades. (Finance Watch).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- The following are major insider trades as reported to the SEC. STOCKS BOUGHT PetsMart: Robert Moran, president, bought 20,900 shares on Jan. 17 at $10.74 to $10.75, now owns 296,643 shares. Sport Chalet:...

The Kmart that could be...the Kmart that coult have been. (Editorial).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... It's July 21, 2003, (or thereabouts), and Kmart is ready to celebrate its emergence from Chapter 11. (Or even sooner if chairman Jim Adamson has his druthers, because the turnaround guru of Advantica Restaurant Group fame believes that every...

The Kmart that could be...the Kmart that coult have been. (Viewpoint).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... When an industry as inherently unpredictable as retailing (think fickle consumer spending habits and an acute vulnerability to adverse weather conditions) encounters a bear market economy like the one we're currently in, it's no wonder many...

Aromatherapy-enhanced toys help enliven early learning. (Toys: What's Hot, What's New, What's Happening).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Now that infant product manufacturers have experimented endlessly with the use of touch, sound and light, several early innovators have since moved on to a fourth sense by incorporating smell into their toys; it's a change that, well, just...

JAKKS Pacific Inc. (Vendor News).(Acquires Toymax International Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... JAKKS Pacific Inc. recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Toymax International Inc. in a two-step transaction. Toymax's principal stockholders have agreed, in the first phase, to sell all of their shares of...

Mattel Inc. (Vendor News).(Earnings increase)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Mattel Inc., the world's leading toy manufacturer attributed its recent 21% earnings increase to higher international sales, lower advertising costs and sharper cost controls. Mattel said quarterly net sales for the period ended Jan. 31 rose...

K'NEX Industries. (Vendor News).(Sales statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... K'NEX Industries announced on Feb. 21 that NPD's Toy Retail Sales Tracking Service (TRSTS) reported the company's Screamin' Serpent Roller Coaster was the No. 1 selling item in the building sets category for 2001. In addition, NPD reported...

Slime time. (What's Hot).(Mattle reintroduces Slime! JAKK's brings out Gak Splat)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... While it may seem that the maturation curve for today's youth is skewing younger and younger, kids still relish one of the simplest, most traditional play activities of all time: grossing each other out. At this year's Toy Fair, slimy,...

Kmart in crisis. (Fast Track to Recovery).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... It's live or die in what may be the final chapter in Kmart's perpetual turnaround story. Ever since Wal-Mart overtook Kmart in sales a decade ago, the retailer has been spinning its wheels trying to regain a leadership position in...

40 People and events that have shaped Kmart.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Discount champion Harry Cunningham, president of S.S. Kresge, opens first Kmart store in Garden City, Mich. (1962) Company sales top $1 billion; Kmart store count reaches 162. (1966) Headquarters moves from Detroit to Troy, Mich....

Financials: Bankruptcy only complicates the game of catch-up. (Fast Track to Recovery).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... There are two things that can be said with certainty about Kmart's financial future. The first is that Kmart's plan to close hundreds of stores will result in its sales this year being less than the approximately $36 billion recorded during...

Executives. (Fast Track to Recovery).(various appointments)
March 11, 2002... Since Chuck Conaway stepped in as Kmart's chief executive in mid-2000, change has been the only constant at company headquarters. Upon his arrival, Conaway immediately began reconfiguring the executive management team, replacing all but one...