Marketing

New York City -- Bloomingdale’s said Monday it has launched a new customer loyalty program called Loyallist in all U.S. retail locations and online. 

San Francisco -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that John Stevens joined the firm’s San Francisco office as VP leasing specialist. A 25-year veteran of commercial real estate, Stevens will focus on leasing space in the firm’s 12 million-sq.-ft., third-party retail portfolio on the West Coast.

Cambridge, Mass. -- For the second consecutive time, Walmart’s overall branded basket registered as less expensive than Target’s, according to Kantar Retail’s semi-annual pricing study.

Los Angeles -- American Apparel appointed Stacey Shulman as chief technology officer effective Feb. 22.

Shulman was previously the company’s VP technology and will have responsibility for American Apparel’s global information and technology operations.

New York City -- A Friday report in Crain’s New York Business said that Dallas-based 7-Eleven, which currently has 12 c-stores in Manhattan, plans to open another 14 in 2012.

Parent company Seven & I Holdings Co. said some of the 14 spaces were leased last year, but others have not been sited yet. Neighborhoods to be developed include Midtown, Greenwich Village, Chelsea and the Upper East Side. The Financial District is also on the boards, according to the report, which said that another 20 locations are planned between 2013 and 2017.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc.'s fourth-quarter net income plummeted 40% on higher costs and aggressive discounting during the holiday selling season.

The company reported that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $218 million, compared with $365 million a year earlier. Sales dipped to $4.28 billion in the quarter, from $4.36 billion, matching Wall Street estimates.

There’s a lot going this week at the Daytona, Fla., area Walmart stores as NASCAR gears up for the start of its season with the Daytona 500. Between special activities in store parking lots and promotions involving NASCAR merchandise, Walmart has effectively positioned itself as the one-stop destination for race fans. While the Daytona 500 is a big deal, it’s really just a warm up act for Walmart.

Dallas -- J.C. Penney Co. swung to a loss of $87 million in the fourth-quarter, compared with a profit of $271 million in the year-ago period. The chain’s results were dragged down by restructuring and management transition charges, as well as costs tied to its new pricing strategy.