Marketing

The Fresh Market experienced an unanticipated sales slowdown across its store base, which it attributes to changing economic conditions and softening consumer confidence. Despite the slowdown, the company’s comparable-store sales grew and its gross margin expanded.

Minneapolis — The Opus Group has completed a 45,600-sq.-ft. retail building for Gander Mountain in Albany, Ga. The project’s completion marks the fourth collaboration between Opus and Gander Mountain in the last 22 months. The new store opened on Nov. 12.

The Albany store represents a new, smaller concept for Gander Mountain.

Staples has named Tom Conophy as EVP, chief information officer, overseeing all aspects of Staples’ global IT organization. He will report directly to Ron Sargent, Staples’ chairman and CEO, and will serve on the Staples executive committee.

New York -- Stage Stores said Thursday that its fiscal third-quarter loss widened as some expenses rose. The company cut its fiscal 2013 adjusted earnings forecast.

The department store retailer lost $11 million for the period ended Nov. 2, compared to a loss of $8.9 million.

Revenue declined 3% to $360.2 million, from $370.6 million. Same-store sales fell 4.6%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses climbed to $98.6 million from $92.5 million during the quarter. Interest expense increased to $718,000 from $568,000.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. swung to a loss in its third quarter, dragged down in part by charges related to the shuttering of its 28 freestanding Gilly Hicks stores. But its adjusted profit topped analysts' estimates, even as its sales softened.

Lowe's Canada has restructured its senior leadership team ahead of plans to continue growing its footprint in Canada.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Thursday announced the appointment of Sona Chawla, president of e-commerce, as president of digital and chief marketing officer. In this new role, Chawla will lead a newly created digital and marketing division, establishing a unified and integrated digital, enterprise-wide marketing, and customer loyalty and insights group to advance Walgreens “Well Experience” strategy and vision to be the first choice in health and daily living in America and beyond, Walgreens stated.

Walgreens has named Sona Chawla, currently president of e-commerce, as president of digital and chief marketing officer. In this new role, Chawla will lead a newly created digital and marketing division, establishing an integrated digital, enterprise-wide marketing and customer loyalty and insights group to advance Walgreens “Well Experience” strategy.