Content about Company Expansion

Who needs a bank? Walmart and American Express have added a host of capabilities to the Bluebird financial service product they introduced last year as an alternative to debit and checking accounts.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The TJX companies reported that sales for the 14-week fourth quarter ended Feb. 2 were $7.7 billion, a 15% increase over the prior year. Consolidated comparable-store sales for the quarter on a 13-week basis increased 4% over the prior year’s 7% increase.

Net income for the 14-week fourth quarter was $605 million and diluted earnings per share were 82 cents, a 32% increase over last year’s 62 cents.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Office Depot has launched the See Jane Work spring collection, featuring stylish organization products and desk accessories, available exclusively at its physical stores and website.

Entrepreneur Holly Bohn-Weiss created the collection, which caters to female customers, because she felt the selection of desk accessories that resonated with her style and personality were limited.

IRVINE, Calif. — Greeting card manufacturer Hallmark has extended its contract with iPass, a high-speed wide area networking platform and Wi-Fi service provider.

Hallmark has used iPass to provide managed network services to more than 2,100 corporate and independent retail locations for the last seven years. The new five-year contract will enhance Hallmark’s networking capabilities, allowing it to add new managed services that will allow the card manufacturer to further its expansion into the digital market.  

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. is expanding its e-commerce service to Japan. Japaese customers can now shop Gap and Banana Republic products online through its new Japanese e-commerce sites (gap.co.jp and bananarepublic.co.jp).  The sites offer Gap, GapKids, babyGap and Banana Republic products.

As new product launches go, Rubbermaid’s Clean & Dry plunger was overshadowed this week by the unveiling of the iPhone 5, depite the innovation it brings to the bathroom cleaning category.

In addition to the Clean & Dry plunger whose key attributes are evident in the name, Rubbermaid also launched the Rubbermaid Bathroom Scrubbers line of cleaning tools. Both products are designed to make bathroom cleaning easier, quicker and more hygienic.

SIDNEY, Neb. — Cabela’s Inc. announced today plans for two new stores, including its first-ever locations in Virginia and Delaware. Construction is expected to begin on the new locations in 2013, with the stores expected to open in 2014.

Cabela’s said it will build an 85,000-sq.-ft. store in The Falls, a new retail development in Bristol, Va., that will accommodate about 1.5 million sq. ft. of retail space.

In Delaware, the company will open a 100,000-sq.-ft. store adjacent to Christiana Mall, in Christiana.

MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills has expanded its portfolio in Brazil with the acquisition of Yoki Alimentos.

“Today marks a new beginning for General Mills in Brazil,” said Sean Walker, General Mills SVPand president of its Latin America region. “Yoki has fantastic brands that have nourished Brazilian families for decades. We are honored that the family owners of Yoki are entrusting us with this fabulous business and its 5,300 people. We are poised to accelerate our growth in Brazil.”

NEW YORK — J.Crew is expanding into Asia through a partnership with Hong Kong-based specialty store operator Lane Crawford.

Beginning in October, a curated selection of the J.Crew autumn/winter 2012 women's ready-to-wear and shoes, men's apparel and accessory collections will be available at select Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong and China. It is the first time J.Crew goods will be featured in a retail environment outside of North America.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Stein Mart has plans to open three new stores on March 15, located in Irvine, Calif.; Suwanee, Ga.; and Sunset Hills, Mo.

The Irvine store is a relocation of another Irvine location. The two new and one relocated store bring Stein Mart’s total store count to 264.

“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our footprint in these three existing markets,” said Jay Stein, interim CEO.

TOPEKA, Kansas — Payless ShoeSource continues its expansion into international markets with new franchise agreements for stores in Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

The company, which is a division of Collective Brands, announced that it has signed two new franchise agreements with partners Emart, a business unit of Shinsegae Group, Seoul, for stores in Korea, and Central Marketing Group, a business unit of Central Group, Bangkok, for stores in Thailand and Vietnam, bringing the total countries, which will have franchised Payless stores to 20 countries.