Finance & Capital Management

Retailers can learn how to develop a strategic process for reducing one of their major facility operating expenses — energy — at Chain Store Age’s upcoming webinar, Understanding and Controlling Energy Costs in Retail.   

A new study from RBC Capital reveals that reversing Banana Republic’s ongoing sales decline is not going to be an easy fix for Gap Inc., reported thestreet.com.
 
In the survey, 48% of millennials polled said they disliked the chain compared to 22% who said they liked it. A majority of non-millennials also said they disliked the brand.
 

Photo: Brian Woods

James Han has joined Lowe's Cos. as senior VP of business development.    In this new role, Han is responsible for accelerating the company's business development strategy which involves identifying and implementing growth opportunities through new and emerging businesses, exponential innovation and corporate ventures. He reports to chief development officer Richard Maltsbarger.  

A new report makes the case for taking a standardized approach to rapidly rollout of solar rooftop installations may    An analysis by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and The Solar Foundation found that Whole Foods Market’s approach to rooftop solar installations in multiple facilities could be a valuable model for other retailers to consider.  

The man who founded the Crazy Eddie consumer electronics chain has died at the age of 68.   Eddie Antar grew his company from one location in Brooklyn, New York, to the largest electronics retailer in the New York metro area in the 1980s, with 43 stores in four states.  The chain gained national fame for its television commercials which featured a maniacal-looking pitchman (which many people mistakenly took to be Antar) screaming at the end of the spot that Crazy Eddie’s prices were  “insane.”  

Kroger Co. posted second quarter earnings that topped expectations but the chain cut its guidance for the year citing ongoing price deflation.

"If you look at the price of milk, eggs and commodities like that, they're historically low. Meat continues to be deflationary and produce is on a deflationary trend," Kroger CFO Michael Schlotman said on CNBC on Friday.

The nation’s largest specialty bedding retailer posted disappointing results on Friday for its second quarter.

Mattress Firm Holding Corp. on Friday reported a loss of $2.2 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue increased 48.2% of $980 million, which also fell short of Street forecasts, reflecting incremental sales from acquired and new stores.

Same-store sales fell 1.1%.