Marketing

Fast-growing retailer shoes.com is on track to generate $300 million in sales after reporting a blockbuster first quarter.

In its first quarterly financial report since consolidating three online businesses under one platform, the company reported an increase in gross revenue of 89% to a record $60 million and a 129% increase in revenue from repeat customers. Gross profit margins remained robust at 44%.

Vancouver -- Fast-growing Canadian online footwear retailer Shoes.com has reported record first quarter. In its first quarterly financial report since consolidating three online businesses under one platform, the company reported an increase in gross revenue of 89% to $60 million and a 129% increase in revenue from repeat customers.

Gross profit margins remained robust at 44%.

The parent company of Albertsons and Safeway has named a drugstore industry veteran as its new SVP of pharmacy, health and wellness.

Indianapolis – Consumer electronics retailer Hhgregg Inc. had anything but an electric fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, missing Wall Street expectations for profit and revenue. Net loss widened to $25.23 million from $7.24 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Net sales shrunk 10% to $485.6 million from $538.3 million. Same-store sales also fell 10%. Rising selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, as well as a non-cash asset impairment, helped increase net loss.

Hhgregg President and CEO Dennis May played the “pleased with significant progress on transformation efforts” card after the company reported abysmal sales for its fourth quarter ended March 31.

The retailer said same store sales decreased 10%. Net sales decreased 9.8% to $485.6 million. Revenue dropped 10% to $485.6 million. The company had a loss of $25.2 million, or 91 cents a share, wider than its prior-year quarter loss of $7.2 million, or 25 cents a share.

Boise, Idaho -- The parent company of Albertson's, New Albertson's and Safeway (collectively Albertsons), AB Acquisition LLC, has appointed industry veteran Mark Panzer as senior VP of pharmacy, health and wellness, overseeing the company's 1,760 pharmacies in 34 states across the country. Panzer succeeds Darren Singer, who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Dollar General is making a difference in the lives of its customers and their communities with another massive donation to literacy programs.

The retailer’s Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $5.8 million in grants to support adult, family and summer literacy programs to approximately 720 schools, nonprofits and literacy organizations across the 43 states Dollar General serves.

Jackson, Miss. – As part of a larger plan to open 30 new corporate and franchised stores by the end of 2015 and 200 new stores by 2018, Newk's Eatery has entered a new development agreement with New Orleans-based Southeast Restaurant Group (SRG). The veteran operator of franchise and independent restaurants plans to open 15 Newk's locations throughout Southern Louisiana and in Houston.