Retailing Today articles from October 2007

Retailing Today archives from October 2007

Supervalu's strength rooted in regional banners.(THE NEW SUPER VALU)(Company overview)
October 22, 2007... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. -- Supervalu has developed a complex strategy as it has emerged as a major retailer in the wake of its acquisition, along with Cerberus and CVS, of the Albertsons supermarket chain last year, betting on the strength of the...

Juggling distribution and retail is key to bigger, better Supervalu.
October 22, 2007... EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. -- When Supervalu purchased the properties from Albertsons, it underwent a profound shift from being a distribution business with a significant retail dimension to one that is overwhelmingly retail. The retail side...

Retail Ventures sells 24 stores.(MARKET WATCH)
October 22, 2007... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Retail Ventures is selling off 24 of its Value City Department Stores to Burlington Coat Factory as part of its review of strategic alternatives to generate value for shareholders. The stores will close by the end of March...

Sears ends mothers work partnership.(MARKET WATCH)(Sears, Roebuck and Co.)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... PHILADELPHIA -- Sears announced that it will not be renewing its agreement with Mothers Work, the world's leading maternity apparel retailer. Rebecca Matthias, president and ceo of Mothers Work, noted, "While we are disappointed about the end...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 10/3/07.(MARKET WATCH)
October 22, 2007... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 10/3/07 Gottschalks 15.17% Apple Computer 12.24 Whole Foods 11.78 Office Depot 11.55 Hastings Entertainment 10.96

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 10/3/07.(MARKET WATCH)
October 22, 2007... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 10/3/07 Kirkland's Inc. (38.9%) Circuit City (21.17) Rex Stores (15.93) Big 5 Sporting Goods (15.39) Walgreens (14.72)

Major indices.(MARKET WATCH)
October 22, 2007... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 9/19/07 10/3/07 Change Change Retailing Today Composite * 2937.20 2898.42 (38.78) (1.32%) Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) 13740.61...

Insiders trades.(MARKET WATCH)(James Aubrey Williams purchased shares of Pep Boys-Manny, Moe and Jack)(David Glass sold shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Pete Williams sold shares of Kroger Co.)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... STOCKS BOUGHT PEP BOYS: James Aubrey Williams, director, bought 2,000 shares on Oct. 2 at $15.68 now owns 14,221 shares. PIER 1: Robert Holland III, director, bought 15,000 shares on Oct. 1 at $4.75, now owns 23,477 shares. ...

Canadian Tire revs up with new concepts, in-store operations.
October 22, 2007... TORONTO -- Canadian Tire is dressing up its operations with another business. The Canadian retail enigma--it sells automotive, hardware, sporting goods and housewares in a big-box format that often leaves Americans shaking their heads in...

Roberto Cavalli to spearhead H&m's latest one-off line.(H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB)
October 22, 2007... STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- Some may call H&M a shopping mecca for fashionistas on a budget. And anyone who has shopped there knows that it's impossible to try on just one item--which explains why most customers walk around with a bundle of clothes...

Toys 'R' Us pops up downtown.
October 22, 2007... NEW YORK -- Just like a fish tank, the wrap-around windows of the Toys "R" Us Holiday Express store allow passers-by to sneak a peek into a temporary pop-up shop that opened in lower Manhattan on Oct. 1. Inside the 25,000-square-foot area,...

New A&P Fresh prototype has tasty ambitions.(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)
October 22, 2007... SADDLE RIVER, NJ. -- A&P has been busy lately, developing new specialty prototypes to address affluent Northeastern consumers who have a passion for food. With what it learned from that effort, and a review of European food retailers, it now...

Walgreens charges on with expansion, despite tough fourth qtr.
October 22, 2007... DEERFIELD, ILL. -- As the dust settles from an uncharacteristic earnings decline earlier this month at Walgreens, the view that's left of the company is that of a retailer who remains committed to rapid new store growth, supplemented by...

Holiday selling season gets pushed earlier and earlier thanks to big box.
October 22, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- With seasonal promotions starting in early October (along with decorations in some places), the holiday boom has kicked off and retailers are planting seeds for early shopping. According to the...

Movie Gallery closes 520 stores to leverage operations.
October 22, 2007... DOTHAN, Ala. -- The struggling Movie Gallery chain is closing 520 stores across the country this fall to pay down debt and alleviate its financial burdens. The closings will reduce the 4,500-store chain's base by about 12%, leaving it with...

Meijer makes move into e-commerce on its own terms.
October 22, 2007... GRAND RAPIDS, MICH .-- Meijer has revamped its web site and added an e-commerce function for its general merchandising business. The regional supercenter retailer may be coming late to the e-commerce game, but it is trying to take advantage...

Online poll results.(WHAT'S NEW ONLINE)
October 22, 2007... [RED] DAWN OF A NEW ERA? (Poll results collected from Oct. 1 to Oct. 4) Q: IS THE 'MADE IN CHINA' CRISIS COMING TO AN END, OR WILL IT ENDURE THROUGH THE FOURTH QUARTER? 56% 'Made in China' has become a major stigma in...

Columbusdayhalloweenblackfriday season!(Editorial)
October 22, 2007... By the time the following words are published, the holiday pop-up store for Toys "R" Us will have been open for more than three weeks; Wal-Mart's early bird preseason toy promotion also will be in its third week; and Sears will have mailed...

Upcoming industry events.(Noteworthy)(Calendar)
October 22, 2007... * Beyond Bentonville: Best Practices in Apparel & Accessories October 30 Embassy Sutes, Rogers, Arkansas http://www.ConnectingNWA.com * PLMA's Trade Show: November 11 to 13 Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago http://www.plma.com

Collective voice is soundest strategy.(Opinion)
October 22, 2007... One of the biggest public policy disasters in American history provides a key lesson about waging political battles that most industry leaders have still yet to learn: Shared strategies--not industry affiliations--should determine political...

Keeping it Fresh & Healthy with an emphasis on premium food.(THE NEW SUPER VALU)
October 22, 2007... The Premium Fresh & Healthy format that Supervalu has developed as a merchandising framework for its stores includes a significantly remodeled perishables operation. In perishables departments at the new Supervalu, the emphasis is on the...

Might of the tikes: tweens driving new products.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
October 22, 2007... With the market for tween consumers continuing to grow and reach down into an even younger age group, studios and networks that provide entertainment for kids are using their popular TV-based series as vehicles for new products this fall,...

Holiday season becomes battleground for high-def DVD.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)(Industry overview)
October 22, 2007... Round two of the high-definition DVD wars began this month with Toshiba and Sony set to square off again during the holidays. And with more retailers and suppliers getting involved this fall, the price of players is expected to dip closer to...

Despite studio push, consumers still low on high-def.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
October 22, 2007... Despite a multimillion dollar TV ad campaign and a strong push from studios, less than one-third of consumers are aware that high-definition DVD even exists. That was one of the key findings of a September report from The NPD Group on...

'Halo 3' blasts onto retailers' shelves.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)
October 22, 2007... The launch of the video game "Halo 3" on Sept. 25 was a landmark event for gamers and retailers who merchandised the launch as if it were a blockbuster movie. The game generated a record $300 million in sales its first week--including $150...

LCD, plasma demand expected to be far from flat.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)(liquid crystal displays)
October 22, 2007... After the flat-panel price wars of the 2006 holiday season, retailers assumed things would be more stable this time around in the high-definition TV market. But that could be wishful thinking. While nobody is predicting a repeat of last...

Marvel using its Spidey sense to spring into HBC.(Retailing & ENTERTAINMENT Licensing)(Marvel Entertainment)
October 22, 2007... Ever since the first "Spider-Man" movie revived the iconic franchise in 2002, the comic book hero has been a cash cow for Marvel Entertainment, with the familiar logo appearing on everything from T-shirts to band-aids. But now that the...

The Sports Authority at 20 has Gart legacy, bright future.(SPORTS AUTHORITY)
October 22, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anyone wondering what happened to The Sports Authority since it went private 18 months ago is about to find out. The company, which opened its first store 20 years ago and spent the past decade as the leading...

Brand new philosophy: maximize name equity.(SPORTS AUTHORITY)
October 22, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The merchandising strategy of The Sports Authority can be summed up in one word: brands. The emphasis on brands is unmistakable, whether it's walking through the hallways of the company's headquarters, discussing...

Upgrading the in-store experience.(SPORTS AUTHORITY)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the footwear department, higher priced point shoes are positioned where customers require a sales representative's assistance, whereas lower priced shoes they can select themselves. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Gart & TSA: built on pioneering traditions.(SPORTS AUTHORITY)(Company overview)
October 22, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first Sports Authority store opened 20 years ago, and today, the company operates a nationwide chain of 400 sporting goods stores that generate estimated annual sales of $2.8 billion. To achieve such growth in...

Advance Auto Parts.(RETAILER NEWS)
October 22, 2007... Advance Auto Parts, in conjunction with six Virginia-area colleges, has created a Campus Car Program to lend students with vehicle-related knowledge. By linking a page onto school Web sites, students and faculty have access to car care...

AutoZone.(RETAILER NEWS)
October 22, 2007... AutoZone recently began its new fiscal year with a vow to continue expansion of its hard parts product assortment. According to president and ceo Bill Rhodes, an expanded assortment of hard parts is crucial to the company's ability to satisfy...

NASCAR.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... The automotive aftermarket, consumer products and licensing divisions of NASCAR are under new leadership following the recent appointment of Paul Brooks as senior vp. He previously served as vp of NASCAR digital entertainment. In his new...

Fancy flooring.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Automotive enthusiasts have long held their garages in higher esteem than the average homeowner. They recognize the garage is more than a place to park vehicles, but rather an extension of the home and a place to play, relax and pursue...

Eco-awareness moving beyond hybrid vehicles.(AUTOMOTIVES UPDATE)(Survey)
October 22, 2007... Automotive manufacturers and oil companies are often viewed in a negative light by sustainability proponents due to their historically negative impact on the environment. However, when it comes to automotive aftermarket retailers, they are...

Fueling up.(ACCESSORIES)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... The fuel additives segment of the automotive category has always been a reliable business retailers could count on for support from male customers who were receptive to the wide range of claims made by manufacturers. A walk down the aisles of...

Canadian Tire taking advantage of NASCAR's popularity.(AUTOMOTIVES UPDATE)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc.)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Brakes, coolant, tire gauges, batteries and accessories are among the products that are part of a new automotive products line called NASCAR Advantage that will soon be offered in Canadian Tire stores. "There have always been a lot of...

Tesco goes green in California.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. -- Tesco announced on Oct. 3 that its upcoming Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain in California will join the California Climate Action Registry. The move is the latest that the company has taken toward being...

Bruno's names Moore new president, CEO.(Bruno's Supermarkets named Kent Moore )(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Kent Moore was named president and ceo of Bruno's Supermarkets on Tuesday. Moore has over 20 years in the supermarket industry, beginning in 1985 with Arthur Anderson and Co., as the lead audit manager on the Randall's...

Wish Book making its way back to consumers.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... CHICAGO -- The Sears Wish Book, formerly a colossal catalog that featured holiday gift ideas, is back with a slimmer style. The catalog, shelved by the company in 1993, is being reinvigorated to expand its shopper demographic and reawaken its...

Ahold, Oracle improve customer experience.(Ahold USA)(Oracle Retail)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... REDWOOD SHORES, CALIF. -- Ahold USA has entered into an agreement with Oracle Retail, in which Oracle will support Ahold's value repositioning program and help provide a world-class shopping experience for customers across more than 700...

Kroger finds Wright head for charity biz.(appointment of Kathleen Wright )(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... CINCINNATI -- Kroger named Kathleen Wright the new director of its perishable donations partnership. The company plans to increase the number of Kroger-owned stores that donate perishable food to America's Second Harvest food banks that have...

Family Dollar taking one fiscal step at a time.(hardlines)(Family Dollar Stores Inc. revenue report)(Financial report)
October 22, 2007... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar plans to pursue a measured pace of expansion and has adopted a conservative view of sales growth for its new fiscal year amid lingering concerns over the impact of the economy and volatile energy prices on its...

Annual sales in Texas grow more than 99 Cents Only.(hardlines)(revenue report)(Financial report)
October 22, 2007... CITY OF COMMERCE, CALIF. -- After hitting a tough stretch when it branched into Texas in 2003, the 99 Cents Only chain continued to rebound this fall as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. The chain officially commemorated the opening of...

Shopping outlook.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... The week following the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 25 to Dec. 1) will bring cold and wet conditions to the East as the season's first Nor'easter skirts along the coast dumping rain in cities and wet snow inland. Much of the western United...

Forecast by retail market.(MERCHANT PLANNER: A MONTHLY TREND OF WEATHER AND MERCHANDISING FOR THE YEAR'S HIGHEST-VOLUME PROMOTIONAL "HOLIDAYS")(Statistical table)
October 22, 2007... FORECAST BY RETAIL MARKET AVERAGE LAST YEAR City (30 YEARS) (ACTUAL) Boston TEMP 41[degrees] 52[degrees] PRECIP 0.91" ...

When are celebrities more than celebrities? When they're part of Macy's new strategy.
October 8, 2007... NEW YORK -- Few commercials can surpass the 'pop cultureness' of Macy's new TV campaign. Martha, Donald, Usher, Emeril and Jessica are just a few of the famous faces cast in witty segments. "Macy's new brand campaign pairs one of the...

Children's Place ceo out, troubles in.
October 8, 2007... SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Something must have been brewing at The Children's Place back in April when the company failed to file the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Now that it's September, and NASDAQ sent two more Staff Determination...

Google lends hand to retailer advertising.
October 8, 2007... NEW YORK -- In an effort to more effectively engage media, the public and business, Google held its first ever press day on Sept. 20 in New York at its Chelsea offices, to detail its vision of advertising's future and the relationshi of new...

Kohl's rolls out solar energy system.(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF. -- Kohl's has unveiled a rooftop solar energy system at its store here as part of the largest planned U.S. photovoltaic solar rollout to date. Kohl's said it plans to build solar electric systems at 63 of its California...

Jackson takes on new role at Best Buy.(Darren Jackson)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy has announced that Darren Jackson, cfo, will fill the newly created position of evp of customer operating groups. In this role, Jackson will lead Best Buy's entertainment, PC mobility and...

Publix ceo to retire, Crenshaw to step in.(Charlie Jenkins, Jr. to retire and Ed Crewshow to step in)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAKELAND, FLA. -- Charlie Jenkins, Jr., ceo of Publix, will retire from the company on March 29, 2008. Ed Crenshaw, currently president, will become ceo. Todd Jones, senior vp of product business development will...

Staples looks for boost from overseas retail vets.
October 8, 2007... FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -- As Staples positions itself to generate a larger percentage of sales and profits from international operations and alternative channels, it has secured the services of several new board members to help. [ILLUSTRATION...

Designers go from chic to cheap.
October 8, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK Reaching out to the mass market is nothing new to the fashion industry. Just take a look at Pierre Cardin who designed haute couture gowns in the 1950s, then expanded to department stores. Ralph Lauren's...

Home Depot narrows focus, shutters Landscape Supply stores.
October 8, 2007... ATLANTA -- The Home Depot will continue its back to basics push this fall when it closes its 11-store Landscape Supply division. The closings are the latest in a series of moves Home Depot has made this year to focus resources on its core...

In one N.J. town, Wal-Mart puts its heart into Home.
October 8, 2007... SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- Wal-Mart is trying to address an ongoing concern--both for management and the Wall Street community--at a discount store in Saddle Brook, N.J. The retailer is experimenting with a home merchandising set that will test...

Cost Plus scales back to regain consumer loyalty.
October 8, 2007... OAKLAND, CALIE -- Cost Plus is going back to basics, president and ceo Barry Feld has told the investment community. The company's foray into furniture sets and higher-end decor that was instituted three years ago has alienated its core...

Lowe's plans further expansion, despite expected low earnings.
October 8, 2007... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Home Depot isn't the only home improvement retailer feeling the pinch. Lowe's said its earnings are likely to fall below its forecast for fiscal 2008, acknowledging the housing slump is dragging on longer than expected. ...

Priority on health care puts Wal-Mart in good shape.
October 8, 2007... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- The prescription drug and health care marketplaces can expect Wal-Mart to be a disruptive force in the future with the company set to target the industry's inefficiency and margin structure as a growth opportunity and a...

Where did all the fun go?(ONLINE POLL RESULTS)
October 8, 2007... (Poll results collected from Sept. 18 to Sept. 27) Q. HOW WILL THE CURRENT TOY CRISIS AFFECT THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY SEASON? Greatly 35% Marginally 48% Not at all 17% WHAT DO YOU THINK?... TAKE OUR NEW POLL Is...

The power of PRISM.(Editorial)
October 8, 2007... Surely you've heard by now that a "revolution" is taking place at the point of purchase. A veritable "paradigm shift" of near Biblical proportions is sweeping through the field of in-store marketing, turning the advertising world on its head...

Readers speak out.(Talk Back)
October 8, 2007... HOW WILL THE CURRENT TOY CRISIS AFFECT THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY SELLING SEASON? Based on responses collected 9/18 through 9/27 "This will dramatically affect the entire industry and those involved in selling product. Without a doubt there...

Upcoming industry events.(Noteworthy)(Brief article)(Calendar)
October 8, 2007... * Fall Toy Preview: October 9 to 12, Dallas Market Center, Dallas http://www.toy-tia.org * PLMA's Trade Show: November 11 to 13 Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago http://www.plma.com * American Int'l Toy Fair: February 17 to 20,...

Kmart shines 'blue light' on core strengths.(UP CLOSE)
October 8, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mr. Bluelight is back yet again. After a temporary--and rather unsuccessful--stint in 2003, when the company tried to revive the 'Blue Light Special,' the animated light bulb returned in May as part of Kmart's...

Real, fictional divas bring style back home.(UP CLOSE)
October 8, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So, are Kmart and Martha Stewart entering splitsville? Maybe not. In a soft home makeover, Kmart is giving Martha Stewart Everyday a prominent place, even as it features its new Abbey Hill collection, and taking a...

Mobile commerce: marketers make shopping available wherever consumers go.(merchandising technology)
October 8, 2007... In Japan, browsing the Web and shopping with cell phones is commonplace, but it hasn't quite caught on in the United States. However, a few companies are hoping to change that with new services that make it easy to reach shoppers on the move....

POS: RadioShack keypads help visually impaired shoppers.(merchandising technology)
October 8, 2007... Reaching visually impaired customers has always been a challenge for retailers, but now RadioShack has introduced new technology that makes it safer and easier. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 6,000-store chain last month installed new...

A&P.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... A&P in September launched an online shopping service in New York City's Westchester County suburb. Customers can log on to apsupermarket.com and click on a designated icon to shop departments such as grocery, dairy, fresh fruits and...

Wal-Mart.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to expand supercenter in Canada)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... Wal-Mart is expanding its supercenter portfolio in Canada to 17 units. The company is adding nine units, including its first outside Ontario. Five of the supercenters will be located in the province of Alberta. BY MIKE DUFF SENIOR...

Peapod and Stop & Shop have opened a third facility to support their online at-home shopping service on New York's Long Island.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... Peapod and Stop & Shop have opened a third facility to support their online at-home shopping service on New York's Long Island. The company cited strong Long Island demand for the service as the reason behind the move. BY MIKE DUFF ...

Winn-Dixie Stores.(EXECUTIVE NEWS)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... Gregory Josefowicz, former chairman, president and ceo of Borders, has been elected lead director of WinnDixie Stores by the independent members of the company's board. In addition to serving on the Winn-Dixie board, he is a lead director of...

Jolly green kids.(WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
October 8, 2007... According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, consumers are only eating about 3.6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, rather than the five to nine recommended. Because it is difficult to get adults to change their diets,...

Food, beer pairings tap into new opportunities.(BEVERAGES/GROCERY UPDATE)
October 8, 2007... Craft beers are back in a big way, challenging food retailers to discover how best to merchandise a varied and broad assortment of brews. Taking a local approach is one way to address the challenge. With hundreds of craft brewers in the...

Promoting healthiness.(ON THE SIDE)
October 8, 2007... The ongoing interest in local and regional edibles provides the kind of broad and actionable marketing and merchandising opportunities that aren't always available in food or drink categories. Obesity concerns and worries about how...

Better-for-you pastas help retailers stay on top of trend.(BEVERAGES/GROCERY UPDATE)
October 8, 2007... With so much attention paid to healthier and , gourmet perishables, it's important to con sider the progress grocery brands have made in identifying and responding to consumer trends. Pasta producers, especially, have been creating new...

Marching forward AAFES armed for transformation.(United States. Army and Air Force Exchange services)
October 8, 2007... No organization that survives for more than 100 years does so without a willingness to embrace change, and these days that attitude is more prevalent than ever at the headquarters of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The $9 billion...

Future store enhancements aim to keep bottom line on upswing.
October 8, 2007... Driving top-line sales and bottom-line profits in the low-margin, ultra-competitive world of retail is a difficult task for any company, but the challenge becomes more daunting when some of the unique issues faced by AAFES are added to the...

AAFES proves its loyalty with internal advancements.
October 8, 2007... The opportunity for advancement is a carrot that growth-oriented retailers dangle in front of existing employees, as well as new recruits, as they seek to attract and retain the type of people interested in a career rather than an hourly job....

New generation of leadership brings fresh faces and ideas.
October 8, 2007... GEN. KEITH THURGOOD COMMANDER/CEO [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thurgood's military career began 24 years ago as a second lieutenant in the transportanon corps. He attended Brigham Young University on an ROTC scholarship and upon graduation...

Latest technology bolsters in-store execution: there are a lot of changes taking place at AAFES, and nowhere is this more evident than in the merchandising group--or sales directorate, as it is known at the military retailer.
October 8, 2007... Nearly three years ago, AAFES made a huge commitment to implement Oracle Retail s Retek system to manage its business That decision required AAFES to spend the past two years making broad changes to the structure of its sales directorate and...

Softlines sizzle with private, mass names.
October 8, 2007... Most of the retailers with whom AAFES competes never get a chance to see inside its stores since they are located on military bases or overseas where access is restricted to military personnel and retirees. That's too bad because AAFES...

Hardlines becoming a softer sell.
October 8, 2007... When it comes to the hardlines categories of merchandise sold at the worldwide network of stores operated by AAFES, there are a wide range of merchandising and supply chain initiatives reshaping the business. New brands have arrived in...

Todd Oldham new captain of design at Old Navy.
October 8, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO -- Creating a $4,000 blouse? Check. Hosting "Top Design" on Bravo? Check. Twenty years of fashion and interior design experience? Another check for Todd Oldham, who sports a pretty powerful resume. Perhaps that's why Gap Inc....