DSN Retailing Today articles from September 2004

DSN Retailing Today archives from September 2004

'Easy' does it: staples enjoys success of recent strategies.(Company Profile)
September 20, 2004... FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- The giant red dot with the word "easy" in white letters that hangs in the lobby of Staples headquarters is a constant reminder to employees, suppliers and other visitors that easy permeates everything the company does....

BJ's launches restaurant supply concept.(Pro Foods)
September 20, 2004... NATICK, MASS. -- BJ's is extending its strategy of growing warehouse club operations that skirt the struggle between Costco and Sam's Club by developing a new format, Pro Foods, open only to restaurateurs. The first Pro Foods will open...

Australia could be next stop for Costco.(Coriolis Research )
September 20, 2004... ISSAQUAH, WASH. -- Costco's booming business overseas may make The Land Down Under its next stop. A New Zealand research firm says Costco is looking at property in Sydney and Melbourne as potential sites for its first stores. Coriolis...

Frank's closes doors in wake of competition.
September 20, 2004... TROY, MICH. -- Frank's Nursery & Crafts will close permanently in the wake of its second bankruptcy filing and unsuccessful attempts to revive business sufficiently to carve out a profitable niche amongst steadily growing and stronger rivals....

Advance Auto ceo to retire in May '05.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... ROANOKE, VA. -- Advance Auto Parts announced that Lawrence P. Castellani, its chairman and ceo, will retire effective May 19, 2005. Mr. Castellani will remain as chairman of the board. Michael N. Coppola, the company's evp and coo, has been...

Wal-Mart's Scott: we must improve image.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... NEW YORK -- WM-Mart ceo Lee Scott said in an analyst conference that management had failed in its efforts to repair the company's reputation, which has been tarnished by dozens of discrimination cases and charges of worker mistreatment in...

Target announces online custom apparel.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. announced on Tuesday that it has teamed up with technology company Archetype Solutions to create an online service that enables customers to customize their clothing. The "T" line includes women's Mossimo jeans,...

New Home Depot custom made for Manhattan.(urban market planning)
September 20, 2004... NEW YORK -- The new Home Depot in Manhattan is not just the company's first store in that most urban of urbanities but also the culmination of a long learning process. The new urban prototype borrows from current and past Home Depot concepts,...

Manhattan Ace proves the city is the place.(urban markets planning)
September 20, 2004... NEW YORK -- Ace Hardware isn't about to be out-urbaned. Even as Home Depot debuted its first Manhattan unit, Ace already had soft-opened a new urban-oriented prototype with one of its local independent operators. The store is part of...

MAGIC makes apparel trends apparent.
September 20, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- The trends that came down the fashion runways at this August's MAGIC show was almost as hot as the sizzling airport tarmac. High and low, there was apparel to appeal to haute and mass consumers alike. The bottom line was that the...

Tractor Supply ceo passes torch.(Joe Scarlett resigned)(Interview)
September 20, 2004... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- After guiding Tractor Supply Company for more than a decade, ceo Joe Scarlett will turn day-to-day leadership over to president Jim Wright next month to finalize a succession plan that has been in the works for some time....

Factory2U liquidates all assets.(National Stores Inc)
September 20, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Inability to reverse a three-year pattern of losses and declining comparable-store sales finally pushed off-price retailer Factory 2-U into liquidation as part of an asset sell-off approved this month by a bankruptcy court judge....

Fort Worth welcomes urban Wal-Mart supercenter.
September 20, 2004... FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- One of the most closely watched developments in the retail industry is set to take place in two weeks when Wal-Mart announces its 2005 expansion plans. It is widely expected that square-footage expansion will exceed...

Children's place taps ex-Gap exec to board.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores has elected Chuck Crovitz to its board of directors. He has been named chairman of the compensation committee. Crovitz, a 25-year retail veteran, most recently served as evp and chief...

RadioShack rolls out new growth plan.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- After working over the past few years to strengthen its supply chain, divest non-core businesses and become a more disciplined company, RadioShack is now ready for longer-term growth to boost the bottom line, according to...

Kroger evp Zincke steps down.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... CINCINNATI -- The Kroger Co. announced that evp Robert Zincke plans to retire Oct. 31. He joined the company as a management trainee in 1964. From 1990 to 2002, he served as president of Kroger's Southwest division. In 2002, he was promoted...

SmaRT & Final implements digital receipts.(Operations Watch)(After-BOT )(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- Smart & Final has signed with technology firm After-BOT for the implementation of digital receipts starting this month. After-BOT's ReceiptsPlus system is an enhanced version of the traditional paper receipt and will allow...

Circuit City switches to IBM/Linux for POS.(Operations Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... RICHMOND, VA. -- Circuit City Stores, Inc. and IBM announced that they are launching a technology transformation of Circuit City's more than 600 stores, designed to update Circuit City's point-of-sale (POS) systems and other in-store...

Meijer rolls out wireless workstations.(Operations Watch)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- Meijer incorporated the PowerCart System in three new Meijer stores that opened recently in Rockford, Mich., Rossford, Ohio, and Noblesville, Ind. The PowerCart is a wireless, battery-equipped mobile workstation that...

Circuit City posts 2Q sales gain.(Financials)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... RICHMOND, VA. -- Circuit City Stores announced on Tuesday that second quarter sales rose 8.9% to $2.35 billion, while same-store sales climbed 2.9%. During the quarter, the company opened its sixth superstore in the Richmond, Va., market and...

Wal-Mart comps up in wake of storms.(Financials)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart announced recently that comparable-store sales are currently tracking between postive 2% and 4% for September. Because of Hurricane Frances, Florida experienced sales increases in such items as batteries,...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 9/8/04.(Illustration)
September 20, 2004... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 9/8/04 Children's Place 16.64% Syms Corp. 11.68 Radioshack 9.88 The Sports Authority 8.69 Tuesday Morning 8.45

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 9/8/04.(Illustration)
September 20, 2004... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 9/8/04 Winn-Dixie Stores (22.36%) Ultimate Electronics (19.60) Hastings Entertainment (17.74) Rite Aid (14.38) Fred's Inc. (13.71)

Major indices.(Illustration)
September 20, 2004... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 8/25/04 9/8/04 Change Change S&P 500 (GSPC) 1104.96 1116.27 11.31 1.02% Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)...

Stocks bought.(Insider Trades)
September 20, 2004... TWEETER HOME ENT.: Steven Fishman, director, bought 25,000 shares on Aug. 31 at $5.65, current ownership of shares not reported. LOWES: O. Temple Sloan, director, bought 2,687 shares on Aug. 30 at $50.29, now owns 16,000 shares.

Stocks sold.(Insider Trades)
September 20, 2004... SMART & FINAL: Thomas Plaskett, director, sold 1,250 shares on Sept. 3 at $16.70, now owns 27,754 shares. PETSMART: Philip Francis, chairman, sold 54,900 shares on Sept. 1 at $27.90, now owns 195,000 shares.

Registered to sell.(Insider Trades)
September 20, 2004... JO-ANN STORES: Rosalind Thompson, officer, registered 26,000 shares on Sept. 8. BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS: Jeffrey Fraley, senior vp, registered 10,000 shares on Sept. 1.

Ruehl: A&F's hip new retail concept.(Abercrombie & Fitch Co.)
September 20, 2004... PARAMUS, N.J. -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. introduced a new retail concept, Ruehl, to cater to graduates of its collegiate fashions. While Abercrombie & Fitch caters to the 18- to 22-year-old, attracting a faithful male and female customer...

Stop blaming big box.(retail stores reputation in the market)(Editorial)
September 20, 2004... It is truly incredible to witness the vastly different ways in which our society views retail. From the bad rap it gets among high school kids as a place for part-time, dead-end jobs to the praise it gets from people like Alan Greenspan as a...

Sometimes all you can do is hunker down.(From The Field)
September 20, 2004... One aspect of living in Florida that people in the majority of other states don t get to experience is something meteorologists refer to as "hunkering down." This physical act, defined as crouching, squatting or settling in for a...

Is retail ready for a second Bush term?(Guess Column)(Column)
September 20, 2004... An increasingly unpopular war, a series of controversial social policies, a ballooning federal budget deficit and warning signs of economic troubles ahead combined to limit Lyndon Johnson to a single term in the White House. Now, 40...

'Easy' initiative produces hard-to-beat results.(earnings of Staples Inc.)
September 20, 2004... While the Staples story can be hard for the uninitiated to follow with terminology such as Back-to-Brighton, Dover format, Summit supply chain and the easy brand promise, those seeking simplicity need only look at the company's bottom line....

Federated, May, Lenox and Waterford Wedgwood have settled allegations they conspired to restrict competition in the bridal registry industry specifically by denying Bed, Bath & Beyond access to goods.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Federated, May, Lenox and Waterford Wedgwood have settled allegations they conspired to restrict competition in the bridal registry industry specifically by denying Bed, Bath & Beyond access to goods. New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer...

Pier 1.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... In a month when it experienced negative but better-than-expected comp-store sales, Pier 1 has put new strategies into place to drive sales. During August, Pier I launched merchandising initiatives including improved visual presentations, more...

Maverick Marketing Ventures.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Maverick Marketing Ventures is offering the Chillow Brand Comfort Device--a patented, self-contained cooling cushion that fits into a pillowcase. Chillow's MSRP is $29.95, and it's already available nationwide at Walgreen's.

Zevro.(Executive News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Kitchenware maker Zevro has appointed Michael Naughton as vp global distribution, and Cheryl Graf, marketing coordinator. Naughton managed logistics for Austin Chemical Company before joining Zevro while Graf has a background in marketing and...

Dropped quotas don't equal lower prices.(retail industry marketing strategy)
September 20, 2004... Part of the domestics puzzle is figuring out how the end of duties on Chinese goods will impact the market. The impact may be less than some had anticipated, though, in part because at least some retailers may hold the price line on key...

Reflective features.(what's hot)(M8095 mirror, Homedics Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Product features always play a role in home goods. Of course, the prominence is greater in some segments than others, but even in areas such as domestics, where color and construction have been the key issues, performance fabrics, treatments...

Autumn rollout in progress.(home goods & housewares)(Avanti Linens Inc., Waverly Fabrics, contract)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Autumn is here and, as press time approached, vendors were preparing new bath programs for fall. Among those debuting product at New York's October Domestics Week, Waverley will update an embellished towel line introduced in March...

Home initiatives help Hudson's Bay.(home goods & housewares)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Weather hurt Hudson's Bay Co. results for the second quarter but couldn't cool off Home Outfitters. Launched just a few years ago, the home goods retailer has been such a hit that an executive on a conference call speculated that Hudson's Bay...

Regional wholesaler Grocers Supply Co. has purchased Texas ethnic supermarket chain Fiesta Mart.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Regional wholesaler Grocers Supply Co. has purchased Texas ethnic supermarket chain Fiesta Mart. Fiesta, founded in 1972, operates 50 supermarkets and 17 Beverage Mart liquor stores primarily targeting Hispanic shoppers. Annual revenue is...

ConAgra.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... ConAgra developed a whole-grain flour called Ultragrain that resembles white flour in taste and texture but with the added nutritional benefits of a whole-wheat product. The flour is made in a patent-pending milling process that uses the...

PepsiCo Beverages & Foods.(Executive News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... PepsiCo Beverages & Foods recently promoted Mary Dillon to president of its Quaker Foods division. Dillon replaces Polly Kawalek, who retired after 25 years of service. Dillon had been vp of marketing at Quaker. In another executive move,...

Seasonal candy outlook positive.(food & consumables)
September 20, 2004... With about a quarter of candy sales tied to seasonal holidays, competition for shelf space as well as consumer appeal is driving some of the industry's best innovation. For major candy suppliers, seasonal offerings have grown in importance...

Crispier fries.(what's hot)(market share at Heinz U.S.A.)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... While sales of fresh and frozen potato products are down this year, certain innovative products targeting younger consumers have managed to buck industry sales trends and actually grow market share. Such is the case with two frozen...

Fizzy Fruit expands to retail.(food & consumables)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables is a challenge every parent faces. Part of the problem is that fresh produce, while good for you nutritionally, may not have the same taste appeal as salty or sugar-laden quick snack alternatives....

Report: carb craze here to stay.(food & consumables)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Rumblings that the low-carb food craze has peaked run counter to a recent report from Information Resources Inc. The report, "Carb-Cutting Shoppers," found that sales of all naturally low-carb foods, such as eggs and meat, were up 5.8%...

Target.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Customization has hit mass via trendsetting Target: now, customer can go online and order jeans that fit them precisely using the retailer's new "Target to a 'T'" service. Besides juniors' Mossimo jeans at $34.99, customers can order men's...

VF Jeanswear.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... VF Jeanswear just launched a new mid-tier Wrangler brand, Entree, for fall 2004. While the company's Lee brand has long had a presence in both men's and women's departments at stores in this channel, the Wrangler name has long been...

The licensed "designer" T-shirt trend keeps expanding: boutique Tracey Ross has partnered with Warner Bros. for a high-end line of Ts, side-cropped tank tops and T-shirt dresses.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... The licensed "designer" T-shirt trend keeps has expanding: boutique Tracey Ross has partnered with Warner Bros. for a high-end line of Ts, side-cropped tank tops and T-shirt dresses. The products were designed by Tracey Ross herself. Junk...

Back-to-school battle for juniors continues.(apparel & accessories)
September 20, 2004... As the peak back-to-school selling season winds down, those in the apparel business eagerly await comps results to come in--and not just their own. Retailers are curious to see where they stand amidst the competition, especially in terms of...

Lip lingerie.(what's hot)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... From boutiques to the drug and mass channels, there are a host of new cosmetics offerings that liken satin and lace with face cosmetics. One of the first companies to spark the trend is Lip Lingerie by Dianne Brill, a former model. As the...

Denim competition heats up.(apparel & accessories)(fashion shows)
September 20, 2004... America's leading denim institutions, Wrangler and Levi's, are about as mass as it gets. This Fashion Week, however, they each made sure to make a statement that they are not just for denizens of Wal-Mart but for fashionistas who have charge...

Disney aims to SNAP up watch sales.(apparel & accessories)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Disney SNAP is a new line of collectible watches produced by Seiko. The patent-pending watch design features a face that completely snaps off the band and can be clipped onto a shirt placket, tote bag or cargo pocket. Bands feature unique...

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment reported that The Passion of the Christ sold 4.1 million copies on its first day of release Aug. 31. The opening day numbers were huge for an R-rated film but fell well short of the first day record of...

First National Pictures.(Vendor News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Industry veteran Ryan Kugler last month founded First National Pictures, a value-priced distributor that specializes in family and children's product. The Los Angeles-based firm will carry product priced at $5.99 and will have its first...

Heading into the second week of September, there was still no movement on the proposed sale of MGM Studios.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Heading into second week of September, there was still no movement on the proposed sale of MGM Studios. Warner Bros. and Sony Corp. are considered the front-runners to acquire MGM, which is prized mainly for its massive film library.

PricewaterhouseCoopers.(Industry News)(Video Home System )(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... A report from PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that VHS sales will continue to decline rapidly over the next four years as DVD completes its takeover of home video. The report estimates sales will fall from 200 million units in 2004 to 25...

Holiday season DVD release slate is full.(ce & entertainment)
September 20, 2004... Retailers are always tight on shelf space in the fourth quarter, and that's why studios are adding extras to their Christmas titles this year to ensure they don't get lost in the mix. For nearly 20 years, Irving Berlin's "White...

DualDisc.(what's hot)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... It's been awhile since music retailers have had a new product to promote but they'll be getting one next month when the DualDisc hits stores. The DualDisc has a standard CD on one side and a DVD on the other featuring music videos, concert...

Monster DVD sales for sequels.(ce & entertainment)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Finding Nemo shattered the all-time record for DVD sales last year but several titles due in the fourth quarter have a shot taking over the crown. The biggest hit should be Shrek 2, the summer film that took in $440 million at the box...

DVD promo.(ce & entertainment)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 20, 2004... DVD PROMO THE TEN MOST HEAVILY PROMOTED * SELL-THROUGH VIDEO TITLES AT MASS ([dagger]) FOR THE PERIOD OF 8/1 THROUGH 8/31/2004 TITLE/STUDIO NO. OF ADS THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST ...

KB Toys has asked a bankruptcy court to approve a compromise that would settle a dispute with the Walt Disney Co.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... KB Toys has asked a bankruptcy court to approve a compromise that would settle a dispute with the Walt Disney Co. The proposed deal would require KB to pay Disney $365,000 and stop selling Disney-theme dolls in its stores. The dispute steins...

Electronics Boutique.(Retailer News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Video game retailer Electronics Boutique posted better than expected results for its second quarter ended July 31 with $3.9 million in net income. The results were driven by a 29% increase in software sales and doubled analysts' estimates...

The Toy Industry Association and Toy Wishes will hold their annual Holiday Preview of key holiday toys at the Metropolitan Pavilion on Oct. 5.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... The Toy Industry Association and Toy Wishes will hold their annual Holiday Preview of key holiday toys at the Metropolitan Pavilion on Oct. 5. The TIA will also stage its second annual American International Fall Toy Show Oct. 19-21 in the...

Applause Inc.(Industry News)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
September 20, 2004... Applause Inc. ceo Bob Solomon passed away last month at his home in Los Angeles. Police officials said the 50-year-old Solomon died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The struggling company was attempting a turnaround with...

Latest learning toys vie for limited space.(toys)
September 20, 2004... Educational toys should generate solid sales during the holidays, but it remains to be seen whether the closing of the two largest learning toy retailers will have a big impact on the sector. Industry leaders, such as Fisher-Price,...

Robots.(what's hot)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Robot toys have come a long way since the "Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots" of the 1960s. The newest entry is "Robosapien," a 14-inch-high robot that's being billed as a "robotic companion." The new toy designed by physicist Mark Tilden has 67...

Nintendo drops price on GBA.(toys)(Game Boy Advance )(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... Nintendo's decision to cut the price of its Game Boy Advance console is welcome news for retailers but it's not clear whether the move will spur other game companies to follow suit. Nintendo on Sept. 1 reduced the price of its popular...

LeapFrog founder leaves company.(toys)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... One of the key figures in the development of educational toys left the company he founded this month. LeapFrog Enterprises founder Michael Wood resigned on Sept. 1 after nearly a decade with the leading learning toy manufacturer. Neither...

Build-A-Bear Workshops going public.(toys)
September 20, 2004... There haven't been too many private retailers going public lately, but fast-growing Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. is bucking the trend. The company filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August announcing plans to go...

Duckwall feels wrath of outspoken investors.(Duckwall-Alco Stores Inc. )
September 6, 2004... ABILENE, KAN. -- Operating in small towns with little competition has its good points and bad, though the negative has outweighed the positive lately for rural discounter Duckwall-ALCO Stores. Pressured by a major investor to enact a...

New ALCO Market answers growing need for innovation.(Duckwall-Alco Stores Inc.)
September 6, 2004... ABILENE, KAN. -- A new store concept from Duckwall-ALCO with expanded grocery items that opened this summer could jumpstart growth for this regional discounter, whose sales have cooled at the same time that investor pressure is growing. ...

Toy market still full of surprises.
September 6, 2004... PARAMUS, N.J. -- The shakeout that jolted toy retailers last year and led to the closing of hundreds of stores may not be over yet. With Toys "R" Us considering the sale of its stores and KB Toys still in bankruptcy, the era of toy...

Image alert: big box risks becoming new four letter word.(retail store construction rules)
September 6, 2004... SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- Slower than expected sales in August weren't the only problems Wal-Mart faced last month. A new wave of anti-big box legislation rolled out in California and several other states ranging from Texas to Maine. The...

... Even in retail-friendly Dallas.(rules for construction)
September 6, 2004... DALLAS -- Opposition to big-box stores, often originating in Saab-owning suburbs, appears to be cropping up with more frequency, even in areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, where the world's largest retailer has a solid customer following. ...

Ahold chairman steps down from board.(Market Watch)(Royal Ahold N.V., Karel Vuursteen )(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... ZAANDAM, NETHERLANDS -- Dutch retailer Royal Ahold has announced that Karel Vuursteen has decided to resign as chairman of the supervisory board because of personal reasons. Rene Dahan will serve as temporary chairman until a successor is...

Gateway signs deal with Micro Center.(Market Watch)(Micro Electronics Inc. Micro Center Div.)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... POWAY, CALIF. AND IRVINE, CALIF. -- In another promising sign of a reversal of fortunes at Gateway Inc., the PC manufacturer has signed a distribution deal with Micro Center for the sale of its new line of retail notebooks, desktops and...

Home Depot settles discrimination suit.(Market Watch)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... DENVER -- Home Depot has agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle a discrimination lawsuit in Colorado, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If approved by a U.S. district judge in Colorado, the home improvement retailer...

Costco gives life to casket program.(Market Watch)(Costco Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... CHICAGO. -- In two Chicago locations, Costco now offers customized casket offerings. Despite killer pricing, the retailer expects stiff competition.

Field's fills Sears' need for a merchant.(Sears, Roebuck and Co.)
September 6, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Sears' search for a merchant took it to the land of 10,000 lakes, where it reeled in Luis Padilla, previously evp of merchandising for Targets Marshall Field's division and senior vp of soft lines merchandising at...

Late-blooming IKEA U.S. wears 20 well.(IKEA Group)
September 6, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- If much has been made of IKEA's stepped-up expansion goal of opening five new stores per year in the United States through the end of the decade, it's because IKEA itself has often emphasized the geographical aspect of its...

Staples is latest office superstore to pursue promising int'l markets.
September 6, 2004... FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- Although office superstore retailers are in the midst of their most aggressive domestic expansion in recent years, the battle for market share in the office supplies industry is shaping up to be increasingly fought on...

Scotts enters lawn care retail game.(Smith and Hawken Inc.'s acquisition)
September 6, 2004... MARYSVILLE, OHIO -- The Scotts Company, the world's largest supplier of lawn care products, will tackle retailing for the first time with its pending acquisition of outdoor living goods retailer Smith & Hawken and its exclusive brands. ...