Marketing

Texas and the Carolinas drove the strongest sales at Stein Mart in September, while California, Arizona and the Northeast performed lower than the chain.

The company reported total sales for the five-week period ended Oct. 4 of $119.4 million, a 6.5% increase over total sales of $112.2 million for the prior-year period. Comparable store sales increased 4.9%.

Year-to-date total sales increased 3.1% to $832.9 million from $807.8 million for the prior-year period. Comparable store sales increased 2.4%.

New York -- Apparel retailers reported modest sales growth for the month of September, fueled by back-to-school spending early in the month.

Toys“R”Us has appointed Michael Melzer as managing director, Central Europe. He will be responsible for the company’s business operations throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including 91 stores and four e-commerce sites, as well as the approximately 2,200 employees in these countries, and report to Wolfgang Link, president, Europe.

President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Giant Eagle executive chairman David Shapira to the role of governor for the board of governors of the United States Postal Service.
 

SC Johnson plans to disclose product-specific fragrance ingredient information, thus expanding its ingredient disclosure efforts.

Beginning in spring 2015, consumers will have access to the main ingredients used to create the fragrances in SC Johnson products. SC Johnson chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson announced the initiative during his remarks at the American Oil Chemists' Society World Conference in Montreux, Switzerland, this week.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us has appointed Michael Melzer as managing director, Central Europe, responsible for the company’s operations throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including 91 stores and four e-commerce sites.

Melzer previously served as managing director of Staples in Germany, overseeing both its retail stores and online business. Before that, he spent five years with the department store chain Karstadt, first as director, corporate development and later as managing director of its e-commerce business.

Campbell Soup Company has designated Brandywine Realty Trust as the developer of the mixed use development for Camden’s Gateway District. Campbell, the State of New Jersey, the County and City of Camden announced plans to develop the area adjacent to the company’s world headquarters in February 2007 with Campbell designated as the master redeveloper of the project.

The 13 acres earmarked for development are located off Newton Ave., between Admiral Wilson Blvd. and 11th Street.

A decrease in same-store sales and losses resulting from Destination Maternity’s continued efforts to close underperforming stores fueled a net sales decline in the fourth quarter — just two months after Anthony Romano came on board as CEO.

Net sales at Destination Maternity dropped 5% to $122 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, from $128.3 million the same quarter a year earlier. Same-store sales, including Internet sales, declined 5%. Sales results were below previously released guidance.