Marketing

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets experienced a jump in its net income and operating income during the first quarter ended March 31, the retailer said.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Supermarket retailer Harris Teeter experienced a boost in second-quarter sales, as well as sales for the first half of fiscal year 2012, the company said.

Sales for the second quarter ended April 1, sales rose 6.7% to $1.12 billion, compared with the year-ago period, while the 26-week period experienced a sales boost of 7.6% to $2.24 billion, compared with the same period last year.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Company has announced that Gregory Hunt is resigning as EVP finance and CFO, effective as of May 15, 2012.  Hunt, who joined Yankee Candle in 2010, is leaving to join a leading New York based financial services firm.

New York -- Ann Inc. will open a 5,394-sq.-ft. Loft store in Fort Worth, Texas’s shopping, dining and entertainment district Sundance Square.

The new store, slated to open in the fall in a vacant restaurant space, will join a lineup of Houston St. retailers that includes Jos. A. Bank, Pappagallo Classiques and Leddy’s Ranch.

Sundance Square unveiled plans for three new buildings to open in 2013 with retail space on the ground level of the buildings.

 

Toronto -- Sears Canada is launching a “hassle-free” return policy that includes a satisfaction guarantee with every purchase. If not completely satisfied, customers can now exchange or return almost all products within 30 days -- or 90 days if they use their Sears card.

The new policy is part of a new push by Sears to provide “exceptional” customer service. This week, Sears associates across Canada will sign a customer service pledge. 

Boston -- City Sports will open its 21st store, in Burlington, Vt., on May 6.

The eco-conscious space—built utilizing reclaimed materials from previous stores—was designed to capture the spirit of the community. The existing ceiling was kept, and all lighting fixtures were replaced with energy-efficient bulbs.

New York -- Dressbarn, a subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group Inc., has launched a social and interactive campaign, called Share Your (MOM)ent, for Mother's Day. The campaign's integrated web and mobile site was designed and developed by Manhattan-based agency Conversation.

The campaign encourages consumers to upload a photo, video or written memory of anyone who has ever given them a warm and fuzzy mom-like feeling, and to share it with others via social networks and a customizable e-card.

Eight new healthcare clinics in Target stores are set to open in two new markets in July as part of the company’s most ambitious expansion of the healthcare initiative since it first began dabbling with clinics.

Four clinics at stores in the Northern Virginia towns of Fairfax, Falls Church, Gainesville and Leesburg are set to open on July 29, the same day as four new clinics in the North Carolina towns of Apex, Wake Forest and Durham, which will get two clinics.

Hasbro has partnered with teen retailer Aéropostale for an exclusive line featuring the Battleship and G.I. Joe brands.

The line will include men's graphic t-shirts featuring Battleship and G.I. Joe images ahead of the debuts of "Battleship" on May 18 and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" on June 29.

NEW YORK — Best Buy’s chief marketing officer, Barry Judge, has resigned. His resignation follows the departure last month of chief executive Brian Dunn.

Judge is “leaving the company to explore the next chapter in his career,” Greg Hitt, a spokesman for Best Buy, said by e-mail, in a Bloomberg report.