Hardlines

01/06/2011 - 13:31

Transaction marketing reshapes retail in 2011

Transaction marketing gained widespread acceptance among retailers in 2010, as they began to recognize marketing in the electronic banking channel as a far more cost effective way to encourage repeat business, increase the average transaction sizes and drive same-store sales.

01/06/2011 - 11:38

Rain and snow deal club channel blow

Costco said its worldwide sales increased 11% to $9.19 billion for the five-week period ended Jan. 2 and total company same-store sales increased 6%. Same-store sales at Costco’s U.S. clubs increased 4%, or 3% if the effect of higher year-over-year fuel prices is excluded.

01/06/2011 - 11:28

Target ekes out disappointing 0.9% comp in Dec.

Despite an easy prior-year comparison, Target fell short of its December same-store sales guidance with a disappointing 0.9% gain. The company had forecast December comps in the low to mid single-digit range after it released November results, which saw comps advance 5.5%. Analysts were expecting the company to report a 4% December gain.

01/05/2011 - 17:21

OfficeMax upgrades smartphone app

OfficeMax announced it has launched a new enhanced 2.0 version of its free for the iPhone App on the App Store and is making the App available on Google's Android platform

01/05/2011 - 15:34

More proof of strong online holiday sales

Comscore reported that retail e-commerce spending for the entire November to December 2010 holiday season reached $32.6 billion, marking a 12% increase versus last year and an all-time record for the season.

01/05/2011 - 12:04

Mattel plays with idea of new COO position

Mattel announced that it has appointed Bryan Stockton, Mattel’s president of international, to the new position of chief operating officer, effective immediately. Stockton will report to Robert Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel, as will Mattel’s finance, legal and human resources functions.

01/05/2011 - 10:54

Sales, profits up at Family Dollar

An expanding number of consumers in search of value and an improved shopping experience at Family Dollar propelled the company to its strongest first-quarter same-store sales increase in 12 years, but profits for the period and the earnings outlook were below analysts’ estimates.

01/04/2011 - 18:20

Sears, Kmart get new head of retail services

Sears Holdings' SVP procurement and finance has been promoted.

01/04/2011 - 13:03

Report: U.S. retail sales up 3.6% year over year

A report released Tuesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Group said that U.S. retail sales are up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis.

01/04/2011 - 12:37

More Borders woes: Two execs resign

On the heels of Monday’s announcement that Borders Group is delaying payments to some of its vendors, the bookseller said Tuesday that two senior-level executives have departed.