Retail Industry Archive

Sears Holding has turned to alternative media as a key part of its marketing strategy over the past two years, developing a range of promotions and communications vehicles that reach consumers through the web, cell phones and social networks. Most recently, it launched Good News Now, at GNN.com, an Internet-based vehicle featuring feel-good stories and linked to the Sears.com web site. The...

More...

Walgreens is the latest retailer to grab a couple of former Wal-Mart executives and it enticed a past Kraft manager as well to bolster a leadership that’s changing its focus from store growth to improving the performance of existing locations. Just about a month ago, Supervalu announced it would appoint past Wal-Mart Americas CEO Craig Herkert as the replacement for departing chief executive...

More...

While many retailers are either closing stores or pulling back their expansion plans, it’s interesting to hear about chains that are doing the opposite. Room & Board, a Minneapolis-based home furnishings chain with 10 stores across the country, is actually looking for new locations during the recession. Right now it is seeking space in Boston; Dallas; New Jersey; Miami; San Jose,...

More...

With its 100 Days of Summer membership and a range of product promotions, Wal-Mart has positioned Its Sam’s chain as the king of summertime supplies among warehouse club chains, but BJ’s is launching a challenge with a new initiative to draw seasonal grillers, backyard nappers and staycationers in an economic climate that’s keeping folks close to home. And it has more coming. In...

More...

Duckwall-ALCO is one of those value retailers that is gaining in the recession and, in fact, is in the midst of a turnaround despite a floundering economy. The turnaround took a half-decade and couldn’t seem to gather steam when times were good. However, a second effort under a new management team seems to be doing the trick, aided by consumers who are reevaluating where they shop as they try...

More...

Tesco sales in the United States gained 174 percent in the latest quarter and it’s claiming traffic gains as an international strategy to provide lower priced products seems to be paying off. In announcing first quarter sales, Tesco said it had regained some momentum. Comparable stores sales in the core United Kingdom market gained 4.3 percent excluding fuel and value-added tax, a pick up...

More...

Kmart really is serious about shoes, once again expanding its line of footwear with an exclusive collection under the Wrangler brand. The retailer also has been serious about Father’s Day, launching movie promotions for the past two years tied into the holiday with this year’s take-dad-to-the-movies deal delivering tickets to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The Wrangler Footwear...

More...

Gap will try a little of this and a little of that to get sales growth going, but maybe too little. The company announced that it will build on a prototype test and remodel 50 of its Old Navy stores as part of a plan to move beyond the cost-cutting programs it has undertaken and start to drive sales in an economy that might – or might not – be poised for a turn around. At an analyst...

More...

Sam’s Club is taking the summer seriously, building on a membership initiative with a marketing campaign devoted to helping members get the most from the season. Sam’s launched its 100 Days of Summer program as a $15 Memorial Day to Labor Day membership for consumer and small business customers. Unlike many recent Sam’s initiatives, though, this one is more consumer focused and...

More...

An odd thing happened to 99 Cents Only stores, its sales picked up in the recession and it waffled on its exit from the underperforming Texas market. Now the waffle looks like a desire to remain in the Lone Star State. In its latest Security and Exchange Commission filing, the company acknowledge that it has generated substantially lower per store sales in its Texas locations compared with...

More...