Retailing Today articles from February 2008

Retailing Today archives from February 2008

Lampert role still unclear as Sears seeks new ceo.(Outside Insight)(Sears, Roebuck and Co. promotes Edward Lampert)
February 11, 2008... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Who Sears will find to take over the permanent ceo spot, now that the Aylwin Lewis reign has come to an end, is the linchpin in a larger consideration about how authority will be apportioned in a company increasingly...

Toys 'R' Us back in growth mode: comps bode well for future.
February 11, 2008... WAYNE, N.J. -- Although Geoffrey the giraffe has some serious clout in the toy sector, the one who truly stands tallest at Toys "R" Us these days is chairman and ceo Jerry Storch. Two years after his arrival at the helm of the nation's...

Mass fashion in focus: cheap chic fever quickly catching on.
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Unlike a well-assembled outfit, the terms "mass" and "fashion" don't always pair up. Fashion items have either been too edgy for broad consumption, or so-called "mass designers" never quite received credit for their true fashion...

Novelty, design show up at Housewares preview.
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The housewares industry had a rough 2007, but is looking to advance in 2008 and beyond. Evidence of that came at the International Home and Housewares Show Preview held at the New York Hilton on Jan. 8. The preview showcased...

Ulrich to retire, Steinhafel new TGT ceo.(Bob Ulrich resigns from Target Corp.)(appointment of Gregg Steinhafel)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target ceo and chairman of the board Bob Ulrich will retire as ceo effective May 1. Gregg Steinhafel, president, was named by the board to succeed Ulrich as ceo. Ulrich will remain as chairman through the end of fiscal 2008,...

Tesco opening 18 new Fresh & Easy units.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... OAKLAND, CALIF. -- Tesco has unveiled plans to open 18 Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market sites in Northern California, beginning in 2009. Like the 37 other markets Fresh & Easy currently operates throughout Southern California, Nevada and...

Supervalu outlines Save-A-Lot plans.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. -- At its analyst conference on Jan. 24, Supervalu outlined plans for revising its Save-a-Lot concept. The banner will move produce up to the front of the store; add national brands in key categories; add in beer and wine;...

Wakefern expands PL past ShopRite.(Wakefern Food Corp.)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... ELIZABETH, N.J. --Wakefern has begun providing private label products to retailers outside of its ShopRite system and may begin offering a range of services as well. Chairman and ceo Joseph Colalillo said the cooperative may offer some of the...

Costco to open in Australia in '09.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... BELLEVUE, WASH. -- At its annual shareholders meeting on Jan. 29, Costco announced that it's on track to open 29 new stores in fiscal 2008. When asked about international expansion, chairman of the board Jeffrey Brotman said the chain plans...

New Payless succeding with a mix of higher quality and slick new image.
February 11, 2008... TOPEKA, KAN. -- A few years ago, fashion-forward consumers wouldn't step foot inside a Payless store. Today, the Payless ShoeSource on Fifth Avenue in New York raises a surprised eyebrow with its merchandise selection and new image. ...

Mega 'Virgin' all dressed up and going places.(Virgin Megastores)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Purchasing music is no longer limited to record stores. Thanks to iTunes and Amazon.com, music lovers may feel quite content downloading songs wearing their pajamas. In spite of this, Virgin Megastore, British-born entertainment...

BJ's wholly restructures management team.(BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... NATICK, MASS. -- BJ's Wholesale Club has appointed Laura Sen president and coo in a move that looks to be a first step in a management succession process. The company also has restructured its merchandising division. Sen is a 15-year...

Sam's lands--with flat-screens ablaze--smack-dab in the land of the giants.
February 11, 2008... LINDEN, N.J. -- SAM's opened one of its latest generation warehouse clubs in Linden, N.J., a location that puts it in a densely populated suburb just outside of New York's borough of Staten Island. The dub is the first in New Jersey's Union...

Wal-Mart moves to shrink the 'hood.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
February 11, 2008... GLENDALE, ARIZ. -- The eyes of the world were on the Phoenix area last week for Super Bowl XLII, but now the city takes center stage in the retail world as global titans Wal-Mart and Tesco are set to square off later this year with competing...

Starbucks' cup runneth over.(Editorial)(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... As most of my friends and colleagues can attest, I'm about as close as one can come to being a bonafide Starbucks junkie. (Yes, I even have my own Starbucks debit card!) So what I'm about to say may come across as heresy to my fellow...

Prospective shopper perspective.(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... Blame it on Will Ferrell. Like his character in "Old School," I seem to have had a "nice little Saturday planned" for weekends at a time. Having recently moved from a studio apartment into a spacious two bedroom with my fiancee, we're...

The cost of doing nothing is steep.(Opinion)
February 11, 2008... Has anyone told Big Labor about truth in advertising? Apparently not, given the union movement's loud promotion of "products" like minimum wage laws that don't improve earnings, health insurance mandates that undermine health care, and union...

Blu-ray won the battle: but has it won the format war?(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
February 11, 2008... Now that Warner Bros. is preparing to switch over to Blu-ray and abandon HD-DVD altogether, it seems the high-definition format war is over. But not everyone is ready to write off HD-DVD just yet, and retailers will be supporting both formats...

Fox, Apple get download and digital with DVDs.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... In another indication that the DVD business is moving toward digital downloads, Twentieth Century Fox has cut a deal with Apple to include downloads for iPods on up to 40 DVD releases in 2008. The studio launched the partnership last...

The NASCAR sprint is not slowing down.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
February 11, 2008... Retailers, start your licensed product sales. The 50th running of the Daytona 500 scheduled for Feb. 17 kicks off a new NASCAR season in which a combination of favorable industry developments are expected to heighten fan interest and...

Transitioning television for the all-digital age.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
February 11, 2008... By this time next year, the entertainment world will officially enter the digital age when TV broadcast signals switch from analog to digital in February 2009. And while the vast majority of Americans won't even notice, millions will be...

Looking for ways to replace CD sales in a flash.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
February 11, 2008... Throughout the 1990s, CDs were a customer traffic driver for many retailers, and some even built their business models around them. But all that's changed now as retailers are scrambling to come up with new ways to make up for lost sales. ...

LYRIX sings a fine tune in girls' apparel.
February 11, 2008... "American Idol" has swept through many households, tantalizing audiences of all ages, especially young girls who, perhaps, have dreams of stardom. To accommodate the continued popularity of the show, Lyric Culture, a premium adult...

Fitness apparel with extra room.(Myrna Sandnes)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Fitness clothing that actually fits has made a debut with So Fine Fashions and Accessories, owned and operated by Colombian native Myrna Sandnes. The company focuses on bringing affordable fitness apparel to women of all sizes without...

Wckd cool Kmart fashion line.
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kmart's spring launch of Wckd and Limon & Sal, collections for young men, are boosting the company's apparel offering. The Latin-inspired Limon & Sal will target the Hispanic market with clever sayings (in Spanish)...

Underarmour for over your feet.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... UnderArmour announced its plans to launch Performance Training footwear in May. The New Prototype cross-trainer has been available for preorder since the commercial during the Super Bowl. In the past, the only shoe business UnderArmour...

Wal-Mart, Disney partner.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Wal-Mart and Disney Consumer Products paired up to bring additional "Hannah Montana" merchandise and activities to fans. Marketing and advertising departments will have their hands full preparing for the fall and the back-to-school season...

Differentiation is watchword for new TRU.(TOYS: NEW PRODUCTS UPDATE)(Toys "R" Us Inc.)
February 11, 2008... If the key to earning a gold star on a retail performance scorecard is improving one's in-store experience, Toys "R" Us can certainly give itself a gold star for its performance over the holiday season. Not only did its domestic in-store...

Specialized Technology Resources.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... With toy safety issues still fresh on many minds, Specialized Technology Resources, a provider of quality and safety testing for the toy industry, has made its way into the United States and now has toy testing facilities in Enfield, Conn.,...

Mattel reported net income of $328.5 million for its fourth quarter 2007, compared to last year's fourth quarter with reported net income of $286.4 million.(VENDOR NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Mattel reported net income of $328.5 million for its fourth quarter 2007, compared to last year's fourth quarter with reported net income of $286.4 million. Worldwide gross sales of the Mattel Girls & Boys brands are up 9% versus last year;...

It's easy being green.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... The green movement has touched the retailing industry from all angles--apparel, home decor, grocery shopping. Clearly customers incorporate sustainability into their lives. If they buy organic cotton linens for their child, it only makes...

Convergence of toy and tech charging up.(TOYS: NEW PRODUCTS)(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... This year's Toy Fair expo at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City is bound to bring additional surprises in already strong categories, particularly in technology and 'green' sectors. Toy companies continue to weave...

Bored of the board?(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Board games have been known to bring families and friends together. Video games, more often than not, make it to the 'hot' list every year. So it's no surprise that when the two concepts are combined, both parents and kids welcome the...

Better baby food gets a boost at mass.(GROCERY UPDATE)
February 11, 2008... Better baby food is a big deal and the evolution of the category is changing what's critical for its success. Given the intense sensitivity of today's parents regarding their children's well being, it's hardly surprising that wellness issues...

Ahold.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Ahold today announced consolidated net sales of 28.2 billion [euro] for the fiscal year ended Dec. 30, 2007, a figure which was up 1.2% in euro-by-euro terms and up 6.1% at constant exchange rates. At its U.S. operations, the Stop &...

Kroger.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Kroger reached a tentative contract agreement with the local union representing workers at its stores in mid-Michigan. The agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 includes the same health care enhancements incorporated...

Hot cup of irony.(WHAT'S HOT)(Tassimo)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Remember how single-serve coffee makers were supposed to put Starbucks out of business? Or at least drive a few of those Starbucks bucks back to retail? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Well, Tassimo will now offer a variety of Starbucks...

Beauty in a bottle.(ON THE SIDE)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Wellness is an issue impacting everyone from babies to million dollar babies. To whit, Saks decided that refresh, revitalize, renew, a beauty focused wellness promotion that ran Jan. 13 to 19, needed something to broaden the scope of its...

'Tis always the season to promote adult beverages.(GROCERY UPDATE)
February 11, 2008... Seasonal promotional vehicles are becoming even more important for suppliers and retailers who want to build on consumer acceptance of new and, particularly, premium products. The heavy emphasis Anheuser-Busch, for example, placed on this...

Getting a grip on wellness is slippery, but important.(UPDATE)
February 11, 2008... Clearly, more vendors think that 'better for the consumer' is better for their products. Yet, understanding just what consumers mean by better is important. In baby food, organic is critical. According to The Nielsen Co., baby food...

New entrants want piece of booming industry.(PET GOODS UPDATE)(briefs)
February 11, 2008... As the one product category seemingly immune to the ups and downs of the economy, pet products have been an attractive sector to companies outside of the pet business, and that continues to be the case as new players enter the growing field....

Pet treats, naturally.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Last year's scare over tainted pet food from China made consumers think twice about the health of their pets and put more emphasis on allnatural food and healthy treats. That trend is reflected in a recent survey by Simmons MarLet Research,...

PetSmart.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... PetSmart says same-store sales for its fourth quarter would be lower than expected due to weak sales around the holidays. The 993-store chain expects same-store sales to be fiat or increase up to 1%. The chain will announce fourth-quarter...

Pet Ecology Brands.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Pet Ecology Brands has won a Best of the Best Award from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for its Perfect Litter Alert. Perfect Litter is the first cat litter that contains a product that indicates when a cat is suffering...

Less than one-third of pet owners will cut back on spending.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... A survey by the Fleishman-Hillard research firm shows less than one-third of pet owners will cut back on spending for their pets even if they're hit by fiscal constraints caused by a recession. The survey was released Jan. 23 at the North...

Five-senses monster.(WHAT'S HOT)(Aspen Products )(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Keeping pets occupied and amused is a constant challenge for pet owners--and that's especially true with dogs. That's why a company called Aspen Products has created what it calls "the ultimate dog toy." Aspen claims its new Dogzilla toy...

Global Pet Expo unleashed on San Diego yet again.(PET GOODS UPDATE)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... This year's Global Pet Expo hasmovedbacktoSan Diego and will be held Feb. 14 to Feb. 16 at the San Diego Convention Center. The American Pet Product Manufacturers Association is expecting more than 850 exhibitors to crowd the show floor...

Framing a hot item beyond seasonal success.(HOME DECOR UPDATE)(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... Even before the holidays started, folks knew that digital photo frames were going to be a big deal, but reports since acknowledge that they were among the hottest selling holiday items. The question is, now that the holidays are over, how...

Sharper Image Corp. has entered a multiyear licensing agreement with EB Brands, a leading manufacturer and marketer of men's gifts and accessories items.(RETAILER NEWS)
February 11, 2008... Sharper Image Corp. has entered a multiyear licensing agreement with EB Brands, a leading manufacturer and marketer of men's gifts and accessories items. Under the agreement, EB Brands will provide men's gifts--including automotive, golf and...

Linens Holding Co.(RETAILERS NEWS)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Linens Holding Co. reported total net sales of $962.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, a 0.6% increase over the 2006 quarter, resulting from four new store openings, partially offset by a comparable-store sales decline of 1% for the...

Online retailers a good source for trendspotting.(HOME DECOR UPDATE)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... With consolidation in the home retailing sector, Internet-based retailers have replaced small chains and independents as the place where many consumers are turning to personalize their homes. They also are a source for anyone trying to spot...

Decor: indoors out.(ACCESSORIES)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Mixing indoor and outdoor looks is a strong trend in home furnishings today and author, HGTV personality and Mervyns bedding designer Susie Coelho has partnered with catalog and online direct retailer Grandin Road to create Susie Coelho...

Smellivision.(WHAT'S HOT)
February 11, 2008... Innovation is hitting the picture frame category in more ways than one. Along that line, the FotoScents frame (pictured) is an easel-back that holds either a 4-by-6-inch or wallet-size photo horizontally or vertically and includes a...

Laptops driving surge of computer sales.(ELECTRONIC TOYS UPDATE)(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... The Consumer Electronics Show and MacWorld Conference were short on breakout products this year, but one sector that was surprisingly hot at both shows was laptop computers. It's a category that produced strong sales last year and is...

Web cameras.(ACCIESSORIES)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Most new computers feature built-in Web cams, yet older models don't, and that's opened up a new accessories business for add-on cameras. Creative Labs has several new models in stores with prices starting at $49 for its IM Pro Web Cam...

Movie Gallery.(RETAILER NEWS)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Struggling video retailer Movie Gallery plans to close more stores in 2008 after shuttering nearly 600 stores since the summer of 2007. In January, Movie Gallery executives filed a motion with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court to allocate $1 million to...

Consumer spending on DVDs.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Consumer spending on DVDs last year fell for the first time since the format debut in 1997, according to a report from the Digital Entertainment Group. The DEG estimates total spending fell about 3% to $23.4 billion for the year compared to...

Affordable security.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Home security systems used to be expensive and complicated to install, but that's not the case any more with the GE Choice Alert Wireless Alarm System from Jasco (pictured). Unveiled at CES, Choice Alert is operated by a $30 control...

The device to Accell-erate your high-def hook-up.(ELECTRONIC TOYS UPDATE)
February 11, 2008... So your customers are buying HDTVs like they're going out of style. Great. But what happens when a customer brings home his beautiful new highdef monitor only to realize that it has fewer HDMI inputs than he has input devices (such as a DVD...

Newly independent foundation set for milestone.(Connecting with the Community: Profiles of Public Service)(Kids In Need Foundation)(Thea Foundation)
February 11, 2008... The Kids In Need Foundation is set to achieve a milestone in providing free school supplies to its 10 millionth student during the 2007-2008 school year. Founded 13 years ago, Kids In Need is a unique organization in the retail industry...

Circuit City pins hopes on smaller format.
February 11, 2008... RICHMOND, VA -- Coming off another sub-par holiday season, Circuit City is hoping a new, smaller-format store model dubbed "The City" will deliver big returns in 2008 and beyond. The chain recently opened its first City store in Midtown...

PMA captures latest in digital imaging business.(Photo Marketing Association International)(Eastman Kodak Co.)
February 11, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- Retailers can expect a new wave of digital cameras loaded with special features and lower prices this spring as major suppliers battle for market share. That's the key trend that emerged from the Photo Marketing Association show...

Tomorrow's technology draws retailers to NRF in search of the next 'killer app'.(National Retail Federation)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Technology has transformed virtually every aspect of American life during the past decade, and the retail industry is no exception. How consumers pay for merchandise and the tools retailers use to determine product...

Shopping outlook.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND TRACKER OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Last year, the streak of eight straight weeks of colder than average temperatures ended this week (March 9 to March 15), as a major early heat wave gripped the Westem two-thirds of the country. The Northeast, however, saw a heavy late season...

Forecast by retail market.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND TRACKER OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... FORECAST BY RETAIL MARKET AVERAGE LAST YEAR THIS YEAR City (30 YEARS) (ACTUAL) (FORECAST) Boston TEMP 38[degrees] 44[degrees] 31[degrees] ...

Time to sleep in.(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... Nothing raises eyebrows in Northwest Arkansas more than when some vestige of Wal-Mart tradition falls by the wayside. Just look at the reaction last month to the revelation that WaI-Mart's Saturday morning meeting would become a monthly,...

What retailers really need to know.(Guest Column)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
February 11, 2008... Retailers have historically used absolute sales and sales growth as the primary means for measuring category success. Those metrics will always be fundamental to defining success, but when considering the changes that have taken place in the...

What suppliers can expect from Wal-Mart as the company begins a new fiscal year.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
February 11, 2008... As branding statements go, the "save money, live better" proposition Wal-Mart introduced to customers last year arrived at an ideal time. Economists and presidential candidates were debating whether the nation was headed for a recession, but...

Growth keeps coming for Sam's Club.(Beyond Bentonville: EXPANSION)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sam's Club)
February 11, 2008... Sam's Club last month opened five new clubs to put the finishing touches on what is expected to be a record financial performance for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31. Analysts forecast sales to exceed $44 billion and project operating income...

NWACC offers innovative option.(CAREERS IN RETAIL)(Northwest Arkansas Community College)
February 11, 2008... Education opportunities keep expanding in Northwest Arkansas, whether it is for those already immersed in the retail industry or those looking to transform an hourly store-level position into a career. The most recent example of this can...

Dach dishes green secrets at NRF.(Sustainability)(National Retail Federation)
February 11, 2008... Even in the darkest recesses of the Wal-Mart supplier community, it should be abundantly clear by now that those companies able to help the retailer achieve its sustainability goals have an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage for...

Naking the grade with packaging scorecard.(Supply Side)(MARSpkg(TM))(ECRM)(Interview)
February 11, 2008... JANE SEVERIN, PHD, CPP PRESIDENT, MARSPKG CHARLES WALSH LEADER, SUSTAINABILITY AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS GROUP, ECRM The Wal-Mart sustainable packaging scorecard, introduced Nov. 11, 2006, became effective on Feb. 1 as a new metric to...

Events.(Calendar)
February 11, 2008... FEBRUARY February 10-13: Retail Industry Leaders Association annual Logistics Conference, Orlando, Fla. Keynote: Wal-Mart vice chairman Mike Duke Visit: www.retail-leaders.org February 20: Wal-Mart releases fourth-quarter and...

People.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Above: Wal-Mart's Ray Bracy (left) presented a check for $600,000 to World Vision's Zack Aspergen (far right) for flood relief efforts in the Tabasco-Chiapas region of Mexico. Also present at the ceremony in Little Rock, Ark., were Mexican...