Marketing

Brookshire Brothers has launched a comprehensive lighting update involving in-store, parking lot, exterior signage and refrigerated case fixtures.

Using a combination of new linear fluorescent lighting and LED technologies — from GE Lighting, East Cleveland, Ohio — Brookshire Brothers will reduce its annual operating costs more than $235,000. The relamping has eliminated more than 3.8 million lbs. of CO2 emissions, with a reduction of 2.4 million kilowatt hours (kWhs) in electricity use.

Parking lot maintenance is taking top billing in retail, as a growing number of facilities managers realize that extending the life cycle of an existing parking lot paves the way toward reduced expense in the long run.

Chain Store Age talked with Rose Paving’s C.B. Kuzlik about retail’s renewed focus on maintenance in today’s cost-conscious climate.

What role does weather play in parking lot management?

Blending multiple components in a single development isn’t a new idea. In fact, the Urban Land Institute first turned the phrase “mixed use” some 30 years ago, defining it as three or more significant revenue-producing uses in a single project.

Retail has weathered the recessionary climate, but a quick temperature check will tell you that renovations continue to trump new builds even in a recovering economy.

San Jose, Calif. -- Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp. said Friday it will add two California stores to its rollout of a new neighborhood format, with the grand re-openings of a pair of stores in the company’s hometown of San Jose on Oct. 6.

Both stores have been operational for years, but the company said that the reformatting is so significant that they would be marked by grand re-opening celebrations.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot said Friday it has named Mark Vadon, co-founder of online jeweler Blue Nile, to its board of directors.

Vadon will serve on the audit and finance committees. His appointment gives the company 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent.

New York -- Two U.S. retailers took home top honors at the 2012 World Retail Awards in London, with Costco Wholesale Club named “Retailer of the Year,” and Macy’s recognized as “Multichannel Retailer of the Year.” The awards were announced as part of the 2012 World Retail Congress.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday it will add about 50,000 seasonal associates to staff its stores this year, as well as offer additional hours to existing personnel.

“This is our busiest time of the year and we are focused even more on providing excellent service to our shoppers throughout the holiday season,” said Gisel Ruiz, executive VP and COO, Walmart U.S. “One way we do that is by ensuring our stores are adequately staffed by our associates.”

Executive compensation has always been a hot topic in corporate America — and the retail industry is no exception. These days, two trends are upping the attention paid to pay at the top: the ongoing move to performance-based equity, and the scrutiny compensation packages are receiving from increased SEC regulations and shareholder involvement.

E-cards may be popular, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a market for greeting cards. Just ask Dominique Schurman, CEO of Schurman Retail Group. The privately held, Fairfield, Calif.-based company owns and operates some 400 stores in North America, including the fast-growing Papyrus brand.