Marketing

Weak retail traffic and fewer sales at Sears hurt Lands’ End Inc. during the peak holiday season.

The retailer said it expects that for the period ending Jan. 30, earnings are expected to fall 20% to 26% from the year-earlier period to between $34 million to $37 million. On a per-share basis, the retailer forecast earnings of $1.06 to $1.16. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had been expecting $1.38 a share in earnings.

New York -- Dollar General CEO Rick Dreiling had planned to retire in a few months, but after Family Dollar shareholder’s snubbed his company’s buyout offer, Dreiling said he’ll stick around a bit longer.

Last June, Dollar General indicated that Dreiling would step down as CEO effective May 30, or possibly sooner depending on the conclusion of a search for his successor.

Dollar General CEO Rick Dreiling had planned to retire in a few months, but after Family Dollar shareholder’s snubbed his company’s buyout offer, Dreiling said he’ll stick around a bit longer.

New York -- Whole Foods Market plans to open six new locations in Chicago, four of which will open in May, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

The new stores will be located in former Dominick’s locations.

“We took the time to design and build a brand new store for each community that would offer not just a full-service grocery, but also a place to meet friends and share each other’s company,” said Michael Bashaw, president of Whole Foods Market’s Midwest Region, in a statement.

Goleta, Calif. - Deckers Brands has appointed David E. Lafitte to COO, effective Feb. 2. Lafitte previously served as the company's general counsel.

He replaces Zohar Ziv, who retired from the company on Jan. 16, 2015.

Lafitte has served as general counsel of Deckers since January 2012 and also was a shareholder in the law firm, Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth, P.C. where he was a member of the firm's board of directors and executive committee.

New York -- Target Corp. is launching a brand new plus-size line, Ava & Viv, which will be sold both online and in stores starting on Feb. 22.

While this is not Target's first foray into plus-size fashion, the news does signify a new direction for the store. Not only does Ava & Viv boast a broad range of sizes, it was also created with great style in mind, something that previously seemed like less of a priority for the brand.

Solid Gold pet food is partnering with Petco to donate an estimated $500,000 of premium pet food to selected pet charities nationwide.

The program kicked off earlier this month at more than 1,300 Petco locations across the U.S. finalize the placement of Solid Gold's new package design.

Target may have ruffled some feathers in the past with what some considered a lack of plus-size offerings. But the retailer seems to be making up for it now.

Target says it is launching a brand new plus-size line, Ava & Viv, which will be sold both online and in stores starting on Feb. 22.