Marketing

Building stores requires a particular type of expertise on the part of the contractor. Chain Store Age spoke with Gregg Zysman of All-Rite Construction Company about what retailers should look for when hiring a contractor.

What are the most important factors retailers should consider when selecting a contractor?

The most important factor is to select a contractor that specializes in retail construction. Look for membership in associations like the Retail Contractors Association and a list of recognized retail clients.

Ten years ago, demographic experts predicted a looming talent shortage: When the massive baby boom generation retired, the small Generation X would not have enough experienced leaders and managers to fill the positions that boomers would vacate.

COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. — McKee Foods, the makers of Little Debbie Snacks, unveiled a new Little Debbie logo, the third version of the logo since the brand was introduced in 1960.

Consumers can expect to see the revamped logo on Little Debbie cartons throughout the coming months. Based on current sales, the redesigned logo will appear on more than 800 million Little Debbie cartons annually.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has appointed Faisal Masud as its new EVP of global e-commerce. In the newly created role, Masud will be responsible for leading online and digital growth. He will report to Demos Parneros, president of North American stores and online for Staples.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Godiva has signed a new multiyear agreement with eBay company GSI Commerce, which will enable the global chocolatier to leverage GSI’s omni-channel commerce, multichannel retailing and digital marketing services. 

Arlington, Va. -- The U.S. Senate on late Monday approved the long-debated Internet sales tax proposal, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 27. The Obama administration has already endorsed the bill, but before it can become law it must be approved by the House, where Republicans are split on the bill.

Plano, Texas -- In preliminary results, J.C. Penney Co. on Tuesday reported that same-store sales in its first quarter decreased approximately 16.6%, a deeper drop than was expected.  

The company, which will report full results on May 16, said that it anticipates total sales of approximately $2.635 billion for the quarter, down some 16.4% from $3.152 billion in the same period last year.