Marketing

For a company so often on the leading edge of offering its shopper affordable fashions in the apparel and home categories, there is one area where Target has been slow to keep pace with the prevailing trend.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- GE Home & Business Solutions announced that Maryrose Sylvester has been named president and CEO of GE Lighting, a global industry leader in lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. 

Sylvester, who will report to GE Appliances & Lighting president amd CEO James Campbell, succeeds Michael Petras who has led GE Lighting since 2008. Petras is leaving GE to take a position outside of the company. 

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters reported Monday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 31 dipped slightly to $75 million, compared with $77 million in the year-ago period.

For the full year, profit rose to $273 million from $220 million a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter net sales rose 14% to $668 million. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 4%. By brand, same-store sales rose 1% at Anthropologie, 28% at Free People and 5% for Urban Outfitters.

CHICAGO -- KitchenAid announced that it is introducing a new collection of premium hand blenders at the 2011 Home and Housewares show. The line is scheduled to be available in the fall and will include 2-, 3- and 5-speed models carrying suggested manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.