DSN Retailing Today articles from October 2004

DSN Retailing Today archives from October 2004

Mixed projections have anxious retailers wondering, will the Grinch steal Christmas?
October 25, 2004... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT--"Cautious optimism" summed up DSNRT's holiday preview in 2003 but the only thing that can be said with any certainty about the pending fourth quarter selling season is that projections are, well, uncertain. ...

New look for Disney flagship.
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- The Walt Disney Co. is still working on a deal to sell its Disney Stores to The Children's Place but it's keeping a hand in the retail business with a new store concept in New York City. The company opened its first World of...

Costco Home comes to Arizona.
October 25, 2004... TEMPE ARIZ. -- Costco is using lessons learned from its first Costco Home to make improvements to its second store opening this week in Tempe, Ariz. Costco expects the store to produce better sales and provide a template for future expansion....

Starbucks shoots for 15,000 stores.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... SEATTLE -- Starbucks recently announced its plans to expand to 15,000 stores and provided insights into the company's plans for growth in China. The company said that it sees China as its next big international opportunity. Citing its large...

Babies "R" inks nursery design deal.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... WAYNE, N.J. -- Babies "R" Us announced an exclusive relationship with nursery designer Wendy Bellissimo. The multi-year agreement includes Bellissimo's exclusive designs and plans for four original nursery collections this year, with more...

Quikdrop to open eBay 'drop-offs' in New Jersey.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... CARSON CITY, NEV. -- QuikDrop International has reported that James Casty has been granted area development rights to open 30 QuikDrop eBay drop-off stores in areas including Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Monmouth, Essex, Union, Middlesex, and...

Target sees pink in Times Square: temporary location donates to breast cancer research.
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- Target has made its annual 4Q migration to Manhattan, this time setting up shop front and center in Times Square. Its latest temporary--and charitable--retail extravaganza is only open for one month, through Oct. 31, 2004. ...

Target, Mizrahi set up home.(Isaac Mizrahi)
October 25, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target's love affair with clothing designer Isaac Mizrahi has gotten so serious that the pair has settled down to produce a new home line together. Slated to roll out in March 2005, the new offering builds on a successful...

Wal-Mart fragrance launch target soap fans.
October 25, 2004... There are few television series as mass-market as soap operas, so it makes perfect sense that Wal-Mart and ABC's "All My Children" have joined forces. Lending a dose of reality TV to a show that is based on pure fantasy, Wal-Mart launched an...

JCPenney keeps honing off-mall prototype.
October 25, 2004... BURLESON, TEXAS -- JCPenney opened its newest three off-mall prototype stores earlier this month, bringing the total to seven and representing the latest learning from a smaller format that the retailer began experimenting with a year ago....

eBay hits the bricks to speed slow product.
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- Although it might seem like a competitor, eBay wants to help traditional retailers deal with some onerous tasks in a new and less costly fashion. Working with retailers, such as Sears and Sharper Image, eBay already is acting as...

Radio Shack inks two wireless deals.
October 25, 2004... FT. WORTH, TEXAS -- RadioShack announced a three year growth plan and new deals that expand its existing partnership with Sprint Wireless, putting RadioShack operated Sprint kiosks into malls and club stores. It's a new phase of growth for...

DSNRT names new executive editor.(DSN Retailing Today)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- Bernadette Casey, a 16-year veteran of retail publishing, has been named executive editor of DSN Retailing Today, effective Oct. 4. In this new role, she will run the group's flagship, bi-weekly publication, including...

SEC settles with Ahold.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... WASHINGTON -- In what appeared to be an overt effort to avoid incurring double jeopardy (out of respect for Dutch investigators), the SEC chose not to fine Dutch grocer Royal Ahold for its involvement in an alleged billion-dollar...

Amazing savings signs veteran to CFO spot.(Market Watch)(Amazing Savings Inc)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. -- Amazing Savings, Inc., formerly Odd JobStores, Inc., announced earlier in the month the appointment of Stuart Levy to the role of cfo. Mr. Levy replaces Keith Favreau, whoresigned to pursue other opportunities in...

Family dollar names vp, IT operations.(Operations Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar promoted Elizabeth Austin to vp, IT operations. Austin joined Family Dollar's IT dept. in October 1998, most recently in the role of divisional vp, IT operations. According to James Kelly, vice chairman and...

Intermec receive ETSI certification for RFID.(Operations Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... READING, U.K. -- RFID equipment by Intermec Technologies has become the first RFID equipment to comply with the new approved European standard for RFID at UHF. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is an independent,...

CVS reports boost in Sept. comp sales.(Financials)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS announced on Wednesday that same-store sales increased 6.1% during the month of September. Total sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 2 increased 31.6% to $3.28 billion from $2.49 billion in the prior year period. For...

Target posts 12.5% increase in Sept. sales.(Financials)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target today reported that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, increased 12.5% to $3.866 billion from $3.437 billion for the five-week period ended Oct. 4. On this same basis, comparable-store sales increased...

Top gainers for 2 weeks ended 10/13/04.(Financials)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 25, 2004... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 10/13/04 Ultimate Electronics 15.86% Costco 6.37 Limited Brands 5.54 Rex Stores 5.40 A.C. Moore ...

Top losers for 2 weeks ended 10/13/04.(Financials)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 25, 2004... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 10/13/04 Smart & Final (13.49%) Party City (10.80) Borders Group (9.98) Winn-Dixie (9.20) Zale Corp. ...

Major indices.(Financials)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 25, 2004... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 9/30/04 10/13/04 Change Change S&P 500 (GSPC) 1114.58 1113.65 ...

Stocks bought.(Insider Trades)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... ALBERTSONS: Kathi Seifert, director, bought 4,200 shares on Oct. 1 at $24.12, now owns 9,800 shares. GOTTSCHALKS: Frederick Ruiz, director, bought 2,000 shares on Oct. 1 at $6.22, now owns 18,222 shares.

Stocks sold.(Insider Trades)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... SMART & FINAL: Timothy Snee, senior vp, sold 3,000 shares on Sept. 30 at $16.58, now owns 22,162 shares. DUCKWALL-ALC0: Glen Shank, president, sold 1,300 shares on Sept. 29 at $15.95, now owns 8,443 shares.

Registered to sell.(Insider Trades)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... MEN'S WEARHOUSE: James Zimmer, senior vp, registered 20,000 shares on Oct. 11. DRESS BARN: Correia Armand, director, registered 24,000 shares on Sept. 29.

Sam's Club opens sixth retail club in Canada.(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... TORONTO -- Wal-Mart Canada's Sam's Club division opened a unit in Ontario near its Missassagua headquarters in September, bringing the total to six and completing the initial phase of its planned rollout. Kevin Groh, a Wal-Mart Canada...

Wal-Mart details growth plans.
October 25, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- When Wal-Mart announced the grand opening of a new supercenter in Phoenix two months ago, mixed in with the description of the store's features was the fact that the 550 people hired from a pool of 5,000 applicants to...

Campaign Trail 2004.(DSN Retailing Today.com: online poll)
October 25, 2004... The rising price of gas and oil has been cited as primary reasons for shortfalls in September sales. But what are the long-term effects? How much will the rise in personal energy costs affect retail sales in the fourth quarter? READER...

Holiday outlook in Greater Bentonville rosier than most.(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK -- As one of the leading national indicators of consumer spending, the retail industry should feel good about the generally optimistic outlook for holiday sales Wal-Mart issued earlier this month. The retailer said it...

L.L. Bean to expand, names new execs.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... L.L. Bean, the grandfather of retailtainment sporting goods companies, announced plans Friday to open three to five new stores in 2006, all along the East Coast. The openings are part of a larger strategy by the company to wean its loyal...

Big Lots author of latest home diva deal.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... In the latest example of a retailer/designer marketing marriage, Big Lots, the nation's leading closeout retailer, signed on home decor specialist Dia Collins, whose principle exposure to the consumer market has been through her appearances...

Staples to enter Chicago market.
October 25, 2004... CHICAGO -- Staples will add as many as 40 stores in the Chicago market during the next two years in a move that is certain to pressure existing office superstore operators and keep alive the financial community's longstanding saturation...

Office Depot seeks new direction, new ceo.(Chief Executive Officer)
October 25, 2004... DELRAY BEACH, FL. -- Execution and accountability are the new watchwords at Office Depot, as the company attempts to move forward under the leadership of board member Neil Austrian as the search for a new ceo gets underway. Austrian is...

A top brand by any other name is just another label.(Editorial)(Editorial)
October 25, 2004... The mind of the consumer always amazes me. Whether it's the ability to recall a decades-old ad slogan like "melts in your mouth, not in your hands" or to remember every word of the theme song to "Gilligan's Island," it's as if a stockpile of...

Discounters tops at keeping business fresh.(Editorial)(Editorial)
October 25, 2004... I have been thinking a lot about the mass channel recently and what I have discovered is an industry almost unmatched in its ability to remain fresh and exciting to the retail customer. And it goes beyond a willingness on the part of...

In apparel retailing, perception is king.(From The Field)
October 25, 2004... Going against the flow used to be cool. Back when I attended high school, individualism was celebrated, even though peer pressure was a strong motivating force. As it is today, fashion was an important influence for teens of the '70s,...

Domestics week reveals lines inspired by lifestyle trends.(bedding/ home furnishings)
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- If you go by Domestics Market week, which has been in expansion mode and really got an early start in the second week of October, continuing through the third, decorative pillows have become the tribbles of home fashion because...

Gift card charges equal bad business.(Guest Column)
October 25, 2004... When retailers and shopping malls across the country began making gift cards available to their customers a few years back, it had all the earmarks of a win-win proposition. The cards brought in significant extra revenue for the retail...

Objective customer feedback a mystery.(Guest Column)
October 25, 2004... Nearly 30 years ago, a handful of companies from the retail and restaurant industries began adopting an objective and unbiased means of measuring the front-line service experiences of their customers. By deploying consumers to anonymously and...

National brands: feel the pressure.(2004 Top Brands)
October 25, 2004... Power brands appear headed for tougher competition in the coming years, as consumers increasingly shift preferences toward new labels, including store brands. As a result, the fight for top-brand status has grown volatile, with apparent...

Today's consumers more open to try new brands.(2004 Top Brands)
October 25, 2004... A slight decline in brand loyalty and growing acceptance of private labels are loosening up consumer willingness to try alternative brands. The latest Top Brands survey showed greater interest in switching brands in 13 of 17 product...

Customers at big three sport similar brands--except in ...(2004 Top Brands; retail)
October 25, 2004... Brand preferences among those who shop at Wal-Mart, Kmart or Target generally mirror the overall findings in this year's Top Brands survey, although a few interesting variances emerge regarding private label and national brand loyalty. ...

Private label hits its stride.(2004 Top Brands)
October 25, 2004... Private label is a tricky subject. The definition of private label has expanded and now can include a wide range of labels and retail/vendor relationships that complicate any analysis of their potential--even as that potential is being...

Mass channel tops in managing private-label star power.(Celebrity Sighting)
October 25, 2004... For years, supermarkets took the lead in trying to get consumers in the United States to embrace private label, going so far as trying--with decidedly limited success--to transplant the successful Loblaws President's Choice brand across the...

Licensed merchandise turning Toyland on its head.(2004 Top Brands)(Illustration)
October 25, 2004... Ever since the debut of Mickey Mouse, movie studios have dominated sales of licensed merchandise using characters like Mickey to sell everything from plush dolls to lunch boxes. But that dominance is starting to wane now that TV networks,...

Tight race at big three for lowest-price branded goods.(2004 Top Brands)
October 25, 2004... There were no big surprises in this year's Top Brand Market Basket survey. Wal-Mart lived up to its billing as the low-priced leader, Target reigned supreme in product presentation and Kmart was the hard-trying underdog that fell short in...

BJ's first debut pro foods store targets restaurants.(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... With general manager Mario Iannucci, vp operations and sales Dave Evans and senior vp ProFoods Restaurant Supply Henry Ragin on hand, the new foodservice-only club for eateries opened in the Bronx on Oct 10. The BJ's division is operating as...

Sears targets ethnic customers with new lines, bilingual associates.(Brief Article)
October 25, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL -- Sears is increasing its focus on multicultural marketing efforts, announcing plans to remodel 97 stores in ethnically diverse markets, beginning this month. The effort largely focuses on the retailer's apparel program...

IKEA passes critical hurdle for Brooklyn store.
October 25, 2004... BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- IKEA took a step closer to perhaps the best view in retailing as a New York City Council zoning panel approved its plan for a major store in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a site that will give the store a view of the East River,...

Planar boosts in-store customization.
October 25, 2004... NEW YORK -- Planar has struck a deal with Nike that makes designing athletic shoes as easy as using an ATM. The Planar touch-screen system, designated DS15, makes it easy for Niketown store customers to take advantage of Internet...

When reveille sounds, AAFES rises and shines.(Army and Air Force Exchange Service)
October 25, 2004... In an industry as predictable as retail, where store formats and merchandising presentations are more about imitation than innovation, it's always refreshing to encounter a surprise. I remember having my breath taken away the first time I...

A merchant with a mission: serving those who serve.
October 25, 2004... The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is no ordinary retailer as is immediately evident to visitors at the organization's Dallas headquarters. The chain link fence around the building's perimeter, the uniformed armed guards in the parking...

Men might run the battlefield, but women rule at retail.
October 25, 2004... Women in leadership roles in the retail industry are few and far between. Therefore, it may come as a surprise that the one company boasting not one, but three females at the top of the executive structure comes from a decidedly masculine...

Meeting the global challenge, from Texas to Taiwan.(Global OPS)
October 25, 2004... Even though the Army and Air Force Exchange Service falls short of ranking as the world's largest retailer in revenue, this military retail branch outdistances, by far, other U.S. retailers in breadth of global operations and variety of...

When logistics is truly a matter of military precision.(Army and Air Force Exchange Service )
October 25, 2004... Running a service exchange on a base in the United States is a relatively simple exercise in retail, but it's a different matter when the exchange is operating overseas in hostile territory. Keeping combat theater exchanges stocked with...

Balancing the lure of tax-free against a multitude of marketing challenges.(The AAFES Shopper)
October 25, 2004... AAFES appears to have a retailer's ultimate dream: a captive audience. However, while this may be true in far-off lands on remote military bases, it is simply not the case in the U.S. market. "There is competition everywhere, with everyone...

Service retailing never looked so good.(Merchandising)(Army and Air Force Exchange Service)
October 25, 2004... The Army and Air Force Exchange Service faces a host of unique and not-so-unique challenges in merchandising its various stores. To help it meet the needs of its diverse customer base, it is employing a variety of strategies including a...

Outfitting the troops beyond parkas and ponchos.(Apparel & Accessories)(Army and Air Force Exchange Service)
October 25, 2004... While the military look is always in style at AAFES, one might not guess that a recent best-selling SKU was a set of men's burgundy silk pajamas. Knowing that this rather posh after-hours item would be a winner is Jim Moon's job. He serves as...

Supplying home basics for the not-so-basic home.(Home Goods & Housewares)(army & air force exchange service )
October 25, 2004... Home is where the heart is, even if home is on a military base. So it's not surprising that the Army and Air Force Exchange Service conducts its housewares operations very much like other mass-market retailers, with just a few variations on...

Soldier demo tunes in to music, videos and games.(CE & Entertainment)(consumer electronics)(army &aAir force exchange service)
October 25, 2004... Home entertainment isn't the first thing you associate with a military exchange, but given the fact many soldiers and airmen are under the age of 20, it's one of the most in-demand categories. That's why AAFES puts such an emphasis on...

Finding a million ways to say 'I miss you'.(Hardlines)(army & air force exchange service's retail stores)
October 25, 2004... Serving the unique needs of active military members who rarely get to set down roots and the desires of military retirees able to spend more money at their leisure poses a constant challenge to AAFES in assorting its stores with hardlines...

Supplying a private's pantry, from soup to nuts.(Food & Consumables)(army and air force exchange service's food stores)
October 25, 2004... Although it doesn't represent the supermarket-style operations run on U.S. military bases, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service does a significant food operation on par with what many rival retailers have adopted. Food as a convenience and...

For weekly grocery shopping, AAFES is simply outranked.(Merchandising)(army & air force exchange service)
October 25, 2004... AAFES is able to supply virtually all the needs of its military customers--except when it comes to food. A wide range of convenience food items are available at AAFES stores, known as exchanges, and the organization also operates numerous...

Open-door vendor policy attracts a bevy of big-name brands.(Getting On Base)(army & air force exchange service)
October 25, 2004... Although AAFES may be a unique entity in the retail industry, suppliers looking to effectively serve the retailer's customers should understand that many of the same principles involved in selling to other retailers also apply to AAFES. ...

New mega Meijer offers fresh look.
October 11, 2004... ROCKFORD, MICH. -- Meijer has opened its newest prototype in the Rockford area outside Grand Rapids, building on several merchandising tests launched over the past two years and representing a major advance in it's merchandising development....

Best Buy to blur tech line with new CE/Rx hybrid.(consumer electronics)
October 11, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy may soon be branching out from its consumer electronics roots with plans to open a new prototype dubbed "eq-life," that merges health, pharmacy and personal electronics. The company is reportedly scouting locations in...

Hudson's Bay set to make waves in off-mall waters.
October 11, 2004... TORONTO -- Home Outfitters is on a roll that may produce an avalanche of new off-mall opportunities for Hudson's Bay Company. Not only is the home goods chain capable of almost doubling its current 46-store size, executives say, but its...

Sears bows new logo, acquires stores.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL -- Sears has a new company logo with lower case letters, somewhat softer coloring and a red are underneath. The company intends the change to reflect a more contemporary and accessible retailer. Additionally, the...

Wal-Mart names new senior vp.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart has named Lucy Cindric, 48, senior vp and gmm of the ladies wear division, effective immediately. Cindric will oversee ladies' intimates, sportswear, juniors, active, outerwear, swimwear, plus sizes and...

In memorium.(Market Watch)(Obituary)
October 11, 2004... DSN Retailing Today joins the entire retail industry in mourning the death of Boris "Bob" Cohen (1917-2004), founder of All-Luminum Products, currently known as Rio Brands. Bob's illustrious career in the casual furniture industry spans more...

Holt Renfrew shines with "Vinyl": splashy gala attracts attention and customers.(Holt, Renfrew and Company Ltd.)(Vinyl, Style in the Groove)
October 11, 2004... TORONTO -- Many of today's most successful entertainers, including Mike Myers and Celine Dion, hail from Canada, so it should not be a surprise that this country offers some excellent retailtainment as well. Canada's premier luxury department...

SHOPA numbers down, but outlook still remains up.(School Home Office Products Association)
October 11, 2004... ORLANDO -- New products and consumer trends dominate conversation at most trade show, but at this year's Shopa Show the biggest buzz was the show itself, and whether it has a future. "I walk around and I hear people say, 'Where is...

Orvis goes fishing for much wider audience.(retailer)(Company Profile)
October 11, 2004... DALLAS -- Upscale country lifestyle retailer Orvis opened its latest prototype in Dallas earlier this month, adding home furnishings in a format three times the size of its usual stores that sell fly-fishing and upland bird-hunting gear,...

Retailers pleased to meet ALEx at revamped RILA show.(Annual Leaders Exchange )(Retail Industry Leaders Association)
October 11, 2004... DALLAS -- Retailers know an effective tool to serve the changing desires of customers is to introduce new store formats, and now one of the nation's leading retail trade associations has used a similar strategy as it looks to remain relevant...

Silent Costco concept proves it means business.
October 11, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Costco's Business Center division has kept a low profile since it was founded in 1996, but a new store opening in San Diego this month will give it a presence along the entire West Coast as it eyes new markets. The company...

Zigarelli named president-elect at Meijer.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. --Following the appointment of Larry Zigerelli to evp of merchandising in January of this year, Meijer is securing its leadership future and will name Zigerelli to the position of president, effective Jan. 1, according to...

Hurricaines hurt Fla.-based retailers.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... FT. MYERS, FLA. -- As hurricane Ivan approached the west coast of Florida, local retailers headed inland, including the owners of this strip mall in Ft. Myers. By the time Jeanne was gone, a total of four major storms had swept the region in...

Feds launch safer, more colorful $50 bill.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve launched an overhauled $50 bill late last month as part of the government's ongoing program to enhance anti-counterfeit security features on all large-denomination bills. The new note includes subtle...

New POS software simplifies setup.(Operations Watch)(Merchant Consulting Group)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... RICHMOND HILL, GA. -- Merchant Consulting Group (MCG) provides software called TakeCharge 1.0, which enables merchants to accept credit and debit cards and checks for payment, as well as process recurring billing payments, ACH, EBT, fuel card...

Sony Canada takes customer "Pulse".(Operations Watch)(Payment Technologies)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... TORONTO -- Sony of Canada and its AOR for the Sony stores, are using the Payment Technologies platform to support the back-end operations for Sony Canada's recently launched consumer loyalty program, "Pulse." The Pulse program allows...

Family Dollar posts q4, year-end sales.(Financials)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores reported that sales for the fourth quarter ended Aug. 28 were $1.3 billion, or 9.6% above sales of $1.2 billion for the fourth quarter ended Aug. 30, 2003. Sales for the 52 weeks in the fiscal year ended...

Walgreen boasts 18.1% rise in q4 earnings.(Financials)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... DEERFIELD, ILL. -- Walgreen Co. announced on Monday that fourth quarter earnings increased 18.1 percent on higher prescription sales at stores open at least one year. Quarterly earnings increased to $327.2 million, or 32 cents per share, from...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 9/29/04.(Financials)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 11, 2004... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 9/29/04 Fred's Inc. 13.84% Gottschalks 7.12 Hibbet Sporting Goods 6.05 CVS 4.90 Circuit City 4.84

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 9/29/04.(Financials)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 11, 2004... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 9/29/04 Winn-Dixie Stores (24.02%) Ultimate Electronics (12.02) Talbots (9.59) Pep Boys (9.08) Duckwall Alco (7.33)