NRF seeks congressional action — The National Retail Federation approached Congress on Oct. 15 calling for a lame-duck session directly after November’s elections to address the nation’s gloomy economy. NRF officials are seeking tax relief for consumers, and the organization’s CEO, Tracy Mullin, explained that “extraordinary measures are needed to address this...
Retail Industry Archive
October 2008
Costco’s Web sales increase 42 percent — Costco Wholesale Corp., one of the few retailers who appears to be affected minimally by the down economy, reported another year of solid sales– especially in its e-commerce sector. The retailer generated fiscal 2008 Web sales of $1.7 billion, nearly a 42 percent increase from last year’s Internet sales of $1.2 billion....
Advertising Age this week ranks 30 “Power Players” with big ad budgets and a taste for innovation. Ad Age’s list includes four retail honchos: Stephen Quinn of Wal-Mart, Richard Gerstein of Sears Holdings, Peter Sachse of Macy’s, and Mike Boylson of J.C. Penney. What can we learn? Stephen Quinn, CMO, Wal-Mart Stores: Counterintuitively, Wal-Mart doubled ad spend in the first half of...
A.G. Lafley is something of a rock star when it comes to modern CEOs. After taking the reins of Procter & Gamble eight years ago, he has doubled revenues and brought stability to the consumer goods giant. His book on changing the rules of business has been a knock-out bestseller.But today, Lafley must face the music. He must bear the fretting of shareholders at the firm’s annual meeting...
Having failed to find a buyer, Linens ‘N Things will begin “a straight going-out-of-business liquidation sale” as early as Thursday, according to James Schaye, CEO of Hudson Capital Partners, one of the companies that bid earlier this year to buy the retailer’s assets. The endgame for the specialty retailer of household items has been a story of changes in direction. Linens ‘N Things...
J.C. Penney launches exclusive collections – J. C. Penney’s strategy of securing deals with big-name designers for exclusive fashion lines is especially smart during an economic downturn, said Anne Brouwer, a senior partner at the retail-consulting firm McMillian|Doolittle. While department stores lower their year-end expectations, Penney’s has been inking contracts with...
This story, like Enstrom’s Almond Toffee, is way too good not to share. Curious about the ironclad nature of Enstrom’s unconditional guarantee, a shopper sent the following note to the Grand Junction, Colo., confectioner: Your Almond Toffee does not work well as a tax preparer. Per your unconditional guarantee, I formally request my monies to be refunded at the earliest possible date to...
Clorox execs seeing green in more ways than one — After only eight months on store shelves, Clorox’s Green Works line has proven itself as something of a role model in the retail industry. The line is on track to generate first-year sales of more than $40 million, and the brand is already outselling its competitors. Analysts say Green Works exemplifies how a big consumer-products...
Sears Holdings Corp. has reported that Chief Financial Officer J. Miles Reidy will step down later this year to “attend to a family issue.” The resignation comes amid slumping sales at the struggling department-store retailer, which continues to deal with customer defections to discount rivals, resulting from outdated store designs and complaints about warranty services and...
Catalog and online retailers know how to crunch the demographics to find the next set of prospective customers. But here’s a twist: Learn how to use those same databases and analytical tools to get existing customers to buy more from you. Writing in Multichannel Merchant, Bill Singleton of The Allant Group proposes expanding your view of what’s called “migration...
- Sears Face(book)s Black Friday
- Target Pumping Up Its Image with the Right Food
- Costco Challenges Coke and the Stakes Could Be High
- When Walmart Comes to Town, Other Retailers Self Destruct
- Blackhawk Part Two: Gift Cards Replace Banks as Consumers Get Creative
- Target Is Missing a Big Opportunity to Open More Urban Stores
- Blackhawk Helping Supermarkets Grab a Chunk of Everyone's Gift Card Business
- The New Normal Won't Emerge as a Walmart World
- Would You Bet on Black Friday?: Q&A With Bookmaker.com
- Macy's Holiday Prospects May Be Good But Long-Term Chances Murkier
- Supermarkets Adding Bars So Gourmet Consumers Will Entertain Thoughts of Shopping
- CVS Retail Operations Power Forward
- Timing Is Right for Rue21's IPO, if it Doesn't Overexpand
- Whole Foods Slims Down Stores So They'll Age Better
- Save-A-Lot Part 3: Private Label Strength Boosts Growth Prospects
- TheFind.com Give Bargain Hunters More Options Online
- Costco Challenges Coke and the Stakes Could Be High
- Target Talks Cheap but Can't Resist Chic
- Wal-Mart, Target and Costco Shine as Private Labels Challenge National Brands
- Walmart Garanimals Expansion Signals Gentler Approach to Holidays
- Booksellers Take On Walmart, Target, Amazon Over Discounts -- But It's Just Business as Usual
- Pizza and Cupcakes Keep 'em Coming to 7-Eleven as Cigarette Business Slides
- Gap Stands Behind Flailing Banana Republic
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- P&G Retail Push Makes Sense, Risks Aside
- Walmart Readies Smaller Stores for Smarter Growth
- Duckwall-ALCO Rights Itself Amidst Recession
- Lauren Conrad YouTube Tops Kohl's Online Fashion Effort
- Giant Supermarkets Seek Advantage of Small Stores
- Neil Cole Steps Out From Brother Kenneth's Shadow With Iconix -- Or Does He?
- Costco Sees Key Product Categories Turn Positive in September
- Target Fashions a Comeback from Recession with Carlos Falchi, Jean Paul Gaultier
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