Retailing Today articles from April 2008

Retailing Today archives from April 2008

As home slump lingers, hope turns to '09.
April 28, 2008... NATIONWIDE REPORT--No piece of the retail industry has felt the pain of the soft economy as much as the home improvement sector. Yet even while home improvement retailers and manufacturers are working on their contingency plans for the...

JCPenney faces downturn humbled, but determined.(JCPenney Company Inc..)
April 28, 2008... NEW YORK -- Mike Ullman, chairman and ceo of JePenney, declared, "I've been in the business 39 years. I don't think I've ever seen an environment that was as unpredictable as the current environment." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the...

Meijer's mean, green innovation machine.(Meijer Inc.)
April 28, 2008... GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- At the beginning of this decade, Meijer was testing a new generation of supercenters, including a unit in Alpine, a neighborhood near its Grand Rapids headquarters, that would eventually yield a new prototype store in...

Ebay raises outlook for FY 2008.(MARKET WATCH)
April 28, 2008... SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- eBay posted first-quarter revenue of $2.19 billion, up $424 million from the same period last year. The company recorded net income on a GAAP basis of $460 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income of...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 4/16/08.(MARKET WATCH)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 4/16/08 Bon-Ton Stores 7.05% [up arrow] Pier 1 Imports 4.02 [up arrow] to-Ann Stores 2.80 [up arrow] Wal-Mart 2.76 [up arrow] Ross Stores ...

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 4/16/08.(MARKET WATCH)(Statistical data)
April 28, 2008... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 4/16/08 Belk Inc. (37.78%) [down arrow] Stage Stores (20.15) [down arrow] Rite Aid (18.73) [down arrow] Blockbuster (18.60) [down arrow] Spartan...

Major indices.(MARKET WATCH)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
April 28, 2008... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 4/2/08 4/16/08 Change Change New York Stock Exchange (NYA) 9088.15 9203.76 115.61 1.27% Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) ...

Stocks bought.(INSIDER TRADES)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... AMAZON: Edward Lampert, director, bought 4,322 shares on April 17 at $117.69, now owns 22,150 shares. DILLARD'S: William Dillard II, director, bought 9,000 shares on April 11 at $19.85 now owns 73,250 shares.

Stocks sold.(INSIDER TRADES)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... ROSS STORES: John Call, officer, sold 498 shares on April 15 at $32.05, now owns 50,107 shares. PACIFIC SUNWEAR: Sally Frame Kasaks, officer, sold 8,06 shares on April 15 at $12.38, now owns 165,000 shares. BOOKS-A-MILLION: Terrance...

In tough times come real (estate) opportunities.
April 28, 2008... NEW YORK -- No one loves a recession, but the current environment holds significant real estate opportunities, particularly for large, credit worthy retailers. Leverage is turning from landlords to retailers just at a time when mass-market...

Wal-Mart International shoring up BRIC foundation.(Brazil, Russia, India, and China)
April 28, 2008... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart's ongoing transformation as a global company is poised to accelerate in the coming years as recent international actions suggest the company will eventually join other multinational corporations who generate more...

Kohl's opens 'Green' photo studio.(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... MILWAUKEE -- Kohl's has opened a new state-of-the-art photo studio here, just miles from its headquarters. The new studio will be used to photograph nearly all weekly circulars and e-commerce elements in house, boosting efficiencies,...

Lord & Taylor appoints chief merchant.(Roger Adams )(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... NEW YORK -- Lord & Taylor has named Roger Adams to the newly created post of senior vp and chief marketing officer. Adams' duties include brand management, creative and media services, consumer relationship management, market research,...

Supervalu 4q sales show slight drop.
April 28, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu reported net sales of $10.4 billion for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with net sales of $10.3 billion last year. The company reported net earnings of $156 million, an increase of 30% compared to $120...

McNaught, Lawrence move up in JCPenney ranks.(JCPenney Company Inc. appoints Steven Lawrence and Clark McNaught )
April 28, 2008... PLANO, TEXAS -- JCPenney recently announced the appointment of two new executives: Steven Lawrence was named evp and gram of the men's division and Clark McNaught was named senior vp and gmm of the children's division. Lawrence will be...

Tesco U.S.: Still fresh, not so sure about easy.(Financial report)
April 28, 2008... NEW YORK -- Tesco took pains to counter speculation that its Fresh & Easy stores in the United States had not performed up to expectations as it announced strong results for the latest fiscal year. The numbers were sufficient to provide an...

A&P plays up premium, artisan offerings.(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)
April 28, 2008... HOLMDEL, N.J. -- A&P continues to expand gourmet products and departments in its Fresh stores as it seeks to position itself as the food lover's supermarket of the Middle Atlantic. The supermarket operator is preparing to expand its line...

AAFES campaign reminds personnel: think before you shrink.(Army and Air Force Exchange Service)
April 28, 2008... DALLAS -- Retailers typically keep to themselves when it comes to sharing information about shrink percentages and shoplifting activity in their stores. Not so with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, where the approach is a little...

Wall St. scratching head over latest Circuit offer.(Circuit City Stores Inc.)
April 28, 2008... DALLAS -- Blockbuster Entertainment's offer to buy Circuit City in a potential deal worth more than $1 billion generated plenty of buzz this month, but it isn't likely to happen, according to analysts who say a merger just doesn't make sense....

What to do with 'found' money.(ONLINE POLL RESULTS)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... (Poll results collected from April 8 to April 17) Q: WILL THE UPCOMING 'STIMULUS' REBATES REALLY BE A BOOST TO SPENDING AT RETAIL? WHY OR WHY NOT? No. In these economic times, 70% consumers are likely to save their...

Study: in-store DVD rentals are falling off fast.(Report)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... LOS ANGELES -- a new report predicts that in-store DVD rentals will capture less than half the rental market by 2010, presenting a problem for major chains with thousands of storefronts across the country. A Convergence Consulting Group...

Little margin for error.(Editorial)(Editorial)
April 28, 2008... Unless you've just returned from spring break in Siberia, you know that retail analysts are abuzz with talk of bankruptcy. Having just weathered a merciless holiday (one of the worst in the last decade), with nary a private equity firm with...

Readers speak out.(Talk Back)(Quotation)
April 28, 2008... WILL THE UPCOMING 'STIMULUS' REBATES REALLY BE A BOOST TO SPENDING AT RETAIL? WHY OR WHY NOT? Based on responses collected 4/8 through 4/17 "'Found' money sounds good on paper, but with the average American in thousands of dollars of...

Upcoming industry events.(Noteworthy)(Brief article)(Calendar)
April 28, 2008... * FMI Show and Marketechnics: May 4-7, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas http://www.fmi.org/events/may/2008 * 63rd National Hardware Show and Lawn & Garden World: May 6-8, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas...

How recession proof is the patio? 2008 will put outdoor to the test.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE: OUTDOOR LIVING)
April 28, 2008... Home improvement retailers have watched same-store sales drop consistently for more than a year and that trend probably won't end any time soon. But some product areas are likely to fare quite well despite the downturn in consumer spending....

Three categories to watch in home improvement.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE: OUTDOOR LIVING)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... SMART TOOLS 1 Compact power screwdrivers earn high marks for ease of use but often fall short in power and durability, two areas Black & Decker has addressed with its SmartDriver. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new unit provides 25%...

Being green-and in the black.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE: OUTDOOR LIVING)
April 28, 2008... All-natural cleaning products have been around since the 1970s, but sales have increased exponentially the past few years as they've gained mainstream retail acceptance. Once relegated to the aisles of high-end stores and organic grocers, the...

DIY trend helps L&G rake in the sales.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE: OUTDOOR LIVING)(lawn and garden)
April 28, 2008... There hasn't been a lot of good news for retailers lately as the housing slump enters its second year, but one area showing improvement is lawn and garden. According to the National Gardening Association, lawn and garden sales increased in...

Three categories to watch in outdoor living.(SPECIAL REPORT: HARDWARE: OUTDOOR LIVING)(Report)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... PUSH MOWERS 1 Once considered an antiquity in the era of power mowers, the old-fashioned push mower is making a comeback. Leading the list is the Brill Razorcut 38 that's dubbed 'The Mercedes of Mowers' by its creator. Made in Germany,...

Detroit as battleground, as supercenters duke it out.(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Store innovation, as demonstrated in Allen Park, Mich., will be critical to Meijer as it faces increasing competition from Target and Wal-Mart supercenters. Rivalries are particularly acute in Chicago with Target and in Detroit with...

Meijer aims for first with second city ADS.
April 28, 2008... Meijer has made a significant investment in the Chicago area and now is backing it up with a market-specific advertising campaign that is the first of its kind for the chain, according to DeVito/Verdi, which worked with Meijer on the...

Supervalu.(IN THE MIX)
April 28, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu posted net sales of $10.4 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, versus $10.3 billion last year. The company reported net earnings of $156 million, an increase of 30%, versus $120 million last year, and...

Kroger.(IN THE MIX)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Kroger said that starting May 2, customers can exchange their tax refunds or economic stimulus checks for gift cards that will be bolstered with an extra $30, $60 or $120, depending on the amount originally loaded. Kroger...

Winn-Dixie Stores.(IN THE MIX)(appointment of Chris Vukich)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Winn-Dixie Stores has appointed Chris Vukich vp of pricing. He previously had been managing merchandising strategies, business process mapping and inventory, and pricing analysis at Wal-Mart. The company also named Joe...

Making a statement in sustainable food: Wal-Mart uses Sam's to set stage food programs.(Cover story)
April 28, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wal-Mart has made sustainability a key issue, one it will develop in its operations and one with which it wants to be closely associated. While operations have been the focal point of its program thus far, recently...

Sam's wants you! Meat and produce tempt shoppers at warehouse club.(IN THE NEWS)
April 28, 2008... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Sam's Club threw itself a big 25th Anniversary celebration April 18 to 20 and food was a special feature, which may be regarded as evidence that the Wal-Mart division wants to more vigorously pursue the everyday food...

Ethnic fusion spices up mainstream tastes.(SPECIAL REPORT)
April 28, 2008... If the United States has been compared to a melting pot socially, the metaphor might be more aptly applied to American food culture, particularly today. Ethnic fusion, the influence of various cultures on American lifestyles, is having a...

Water popularity whets merchandising ideas: food specialists contend with warehouse clubs for a piece of bottled water sales.(BEVERAGES)
April 28, 2008... Water got soaked this year, doused by bad publicity generated by everyone from environmentalists to urban mayors. Given all the bad publicity, some might assume bottled water sales were stalling. They would be wrong. Dollar sales were up...

Fruit brews.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fruit beers and ales, styles popular in Belgium and Germany, have floated around the American market for a while, but only have enjoyed so much success in part because the commitment to a highly sophisticated...

Frozen, naturally.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Consumers respond to better-for-you products in frozen desserts, but nutritional concerns impact chilly segments too. Vendors are becoming more adept at adding mainstream elements into their product lines to please...

Shoppers want more and less from ice cream: greater variety, national brands and organic options offer opportunities.(FRESH/FROZEN)
April 28, 2008... Ice cream is getting a lot more complicated, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. With health considerations playing more into food, particularly food that is optional, both vendors and retailers are coming up with new ways to address ice...

Linens 'N Things.(RETAILER NEWS)(Linens 'n Things Inc. retains Financo Inc. as a special advisor)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Linens Holding Co., parent of Linens 'N Things, announced on April 17 that it had retained investment banking firm Financo as a special advisor to assist the company in evaluating strategic alternatives. Linens also had already retained...

Tuesday Morning Corp.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(appointment of Stephanie Bowman )(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Tuesday Morning Corp. named Stephanie Bowman evp and cfo. She had served as vp of finance for Tuesday Morning and, prior to that, as vp of finance for Summit Global Partners. At about the same time, the company reported that net sales for the...

Don't let the bed bugs bite.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Okay, maybe hot is the wrong term. Let's just say they're topical. News reports have raised consciousness of the pests, particularly because of infestations at posh hotels in places like London and New York generated by international...

Big-boxes out to grab more of domestics basket.(home & housewares)
April 28, 2008... Wal-Mart is in the midst of a long awaited home invasion, one that should finally position its operation consistently with the improvements in home assortment it has made over the past several years. With a new merchandising scheme and the...

Shade-y designs.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... No matter the bedding and bath elements, consumers need window treatments to add the finishing touch to a room. Some of the best innovations developed across that sector were featured in the Window Covering Manufacturers Association 2008...

JCPenney gets homey with American Living, Linden Street.(home & housewares)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... JCPenney is aggressively reconfiguring home by expanding its new major, traditionally-oriented American Living brand beyond apparel and into a growing range of home categories and by introducing a new brand, Linden Street, to reach a more...

Macy's.(RETAILER NEWS)(Macy's California Inc.)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... It's not just what's in the shopping bag, it's the shopping bag itself that is making headlines. Macy's is adding some green into its red star by using recycled paper shopping bags starting this month. The bags are made with 30% recycled...

Beall's Department Stores.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(appointment of Lana Cain-Kranter )(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Lana Cain-Kranter has been named president of Beall's Department Stores. She will be responsible for all merchandising, marketing, e-commerce, store operations and real estate functions for the Florida chain. Cain-Krauter previously served as...

Looks of the links.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Maybe it's because there are 5.76 million female golfers in the United States. Or maybe it's because golf apparel combines comfort with unmatched preppy style. In any case, plaid shorts, argyle sweaters and polo shirts (Merona styles from...

JCPenney gets more 'intimate' with portfolio.(WOMEN'S WEAR UPDATE)(Company rankings)
April 28, 2008... Sales of women's intimate apparel dipped 1.6% to $10.3 billion in 2007, according to NPD Group data. But retailers continue to try and boost traffic in lingerie departments. In order to snag market share from leaders Victoria's Secret...

Wild things.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Although the spring and summer seasons offer plenty in terms of fashion apparel, accessorizing is a good way to highlight one's fashion panache. Plus, as wallets are tightening, full-on shopping sprees may have to be put on the back...

Looking for a recession buster? Target the teen market.(WOMEN'S WEAR UPDATE)(Brief article)
April 28, 2008... Total teen spending on fashion dropped about 20% on a year-to-year basis, but the category continues to receive a significant amount of money from its young shoppers, representing 41% of their total budgets, reports Piper Jaffray in the...

Memorial day.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND TRACKER OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")
April 28, 2008... SHOPPING OUTLOOK Last year, an early season surge of heat spread from the Midwest into the Northeast with temperatures ranging in the 90s. Unfortunately, by the weekend, the weather turned colder with plenty of rain drowning out retail...