Marketing

No offense to the grammatically challenged recording artist known as Meatloaf, but the notion that “two out of three ain’t bad” doesn’t apply when the issue is monthly same-store sales at Target.

KRONBERG, Germany  -- Braun celebrated its 90-year company anniversary on Feb. 1. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, Braun today is a globally successful brand and the world market leader in the foil shaver, epilator and handblender segments, according to the company.

New York City -- Barneys New York CEO Mark Lee said Monday that he has plans to launch a renovation program for existing stores as well as an overhaul to the retailer’s website.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Lee said at a Monday morning breakfast that changes will be substantial, as the retailer has the largest renovation budget for existing stores that Barneys has seen in at least seven years.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Monday by The Conference Board said that retail employers expanded their work forces in January.
 
The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index increased 0.2% to 100.5, the highest level in two years. The measure rose 7% from a year earlier.

Chelmsford, Mass. -- Kronos on Monday announced the release of its Retail Labor Index, which showed a February increase to 4.2% from 3.85% in January. (This metric is defined as the percentage of job applications that result in a hiring, normalized within a scale of 0 to 100. A level of 3.0% means that for every 100 applications received, three hirings occurred.)

February’s metric is the highest the Index has been since August 2008 when it reached 4.45%, according to Kronos.

New York City -- Crate and Barrel, along with Finnish textile and design company Marimekko, said Friday they are extending their longtime collaboration to roll out more than 20 shop-in-shops in Crate and Barrel stores across the United States and Canada over the next three years.

The launch kicks off this spring with four new shop-in-shop locations: New York (Madison Avenue), Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition, a Marimekko e-commerce 'shop' will be added to the Crate and Barrel website later this season, according to both companies.

NEW YORK -- Liz Claiborne said Friday that Edgar Huber, CEO of Juicy Couture, will be assuming a new position as executive VP global business development for Liz Claiborne, effective Feb. 14.

The company said Huber will continue to report to William L. McComb, CEO, Liz Claiborne.

LeAnn Nealz, president and chief creative officer, and John DeFalco, CFO and COO, will jointly manage the Juicy Couture business while the leadership structure for the brand going forward is determined, according to McComb.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber said Friday that executive VP Michele Babcock will resign the company, effective March 31.

During her 15-year tenure, Babcock led the leasing and remerchandising of 33 centers encompassing four million sq. ft. to record performance levels, according to the company.

Babcock said she is retiring from Donahue Schriber in order to travel, spend more time with her family and focus on charitable pursuits.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Company has launched a new exclusive concept, Modern Bride, in its stores and online.

The concept, a collaboration with Conde Nast, is designed to cater to today's bridal customer. Located in the rear of the fine jewelry department to provide an intimate customer experience, the Modern Bride in-store shops are detailed with their signage, distinctive fixtures, in-case lighting, displays and packaging, along with specially trained associates.

BURLINGTON, N.J. -- Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. announced that net sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, 2011 were $1.188 billion compared with $1.12 billion for the comparative period ended Jan. 30, 2010, a 6.1% increase. Comparative-store sales increased 1.2% for the quarter.