Marketing

Operating internationally is full of pitfalls and political peculiarity, as Walmart has again discovered in South Africa where various government officials are attempting to wring additional concessions from the company related to its acquisition of Massmart.

BOSTON — Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, has named Robert Paglia COO. Paglia will focus on the oversight of Gordon Brothers Group's operating, financial planning, human resource, administrative, corporate marketing, and information technology functions in support of the firm's global platform of integrated operating and capital solutions, the company reported.

New York City -- CVS Caremark said Thursday its profit dipped 1% in the second quarter to $816 million as its pharmacy benefits management business weathered lower prices on contract renewals. Revenue rose 11% to $26.63 billion from $24.01 billion.

Revenue from CVS drugstores increased 3.6% to $14.83 billion. Same-store sales were up 2%, with pharmacy sales up 2.6%  and front-end revenue up 0.8%.

CVS opened 41 stores during the second quarter and operated 7,266 retail drugstores at the end of the period.

CINCINNATI, MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., and PLANO, Texas — Macy’s emerged as the big winner among department-store retailers this July, reporting sales growth that exceeded expectations. JCPenney also faired well for July, while Kohl’s sales disappointed. 

Macy’s Inc. reported total sales of $1.6 billion for the four weeks ended July 30, an increase of 5% compared with total sales of $1.525 billion in the four weeks ended July 31, 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy’s Inc. sales were up 5% in July.

Indianapolis -- Electronics and appliances retailer Hhgregg Inc. reported Thursday that it lost $761,000 in the quarter ended June 30, compared with a profit of $2.7 million in the year-ago period. The retailer cited softness in its video business for the weakened performance.

Revenue dipped 1% to $431.5 million, from $436 million a year earlier. Wall Street expected revenue of $488 million. Same-store sales decreased 13.2%.

New York City -- Department store retailers registered solid gains in July, with Macy’s, Saks and J.C. Penney all beating analysts’ estimates. Kohl’s, however, fell short of estimates as its sales fell.

At Macy's, same-store sales rose 5% in July, beating analysts' estimates of 4.1%. The company’s online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) surged 36.7% in July, 40.2% in the second quarter and 39.2% in the first half of 2011.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Costco announced that it is bringing its Kirstie Kelly wedding gowns to the South during limited-time trunk shows at select locations. 

Plano, Texas -- A Wednesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that J.C. Penney Co. has launched a voluntary early-retirement program for certain employees over 55 years old.