Strategy

Leading consumer products company Helen of Troy saw solid growth in all its business segments during the second quarter, which led to record sales of its stable of well known brands, but stagnant profits.
Sales increased 11.1% to $319 million during the quarter ended August 31, but profits were essentially flat at $23.3 million, or 72 cents a share, compared to $23 million, or 72 cents a share. Gross margins declined to 38.6% from 40.7% the prior year while expenses as a percent of sales declined to 29.1% from 30%.

New York -- The Bon-Ton Stores has signed a lease with Rouse Properties for a new Herberger’s store at Cache Valley Mall in Logan, Utah — its first in the state. 

The company expects to begin remodeling the 62,000-sq.-ft. facility in early spring 2014 and to be completed in the second half of 2014.

New York -- Amazon remains the world's most trusted retailer despite widespread criticism of its tax affairs and labor disputes.

The Internet giant topped a poll of 30,000 consumers in nine countries although the research by OC&C, unveiled on the closing day of the World Retail Congress, revealed that “its crown has very much slipped.”

Consumers were asked to rank nearly 600 retailers on a range of factors such as trust, value for money, service, product, and multichannel capability.

Changes in foreign exchange rates had a negative impact on Costco’s comparable store sales for the fourth quarter ended Sept. 1, but the wholesaler still reported increases in both its U.S. and international markets. 

The company’s comparable sales for the quarter increased 5%. U.S. comparable store sales increased 5% for the quarter, while international comparable store sales increased 4%. 

Phoenix -- Rite Aid has renewed its sourcing partnership with Intesource, an e-sourcing provider in the retail, drugstore, grocery and restaurant industries.

Rite Aid has leveraged Intesource's e-sourcing technology since 2009. The partnership helped the chain secure significant savings  on both direct and indirect categories -- including snow plowing services -- and drove efficiencies across the entire supply chain.

Fort Worth, Texas — Trademark Property Co. has announced the appointment of Daniel Goldware as VP of leasing. Goldware will initially work on Waterside, Trademark’s new 63-acre master planned, mixed-use development under construction in Fort Worth, as well as Victory Park in downtown Dallas.

Goldware comes to Trademark from Weingarten Realty Investors where he served as a leasing executive in both Dallas and Houston for the past seven years.

Thorofare, N.J. -- Checkpoint Systems announced that Family Dollar Stores has entered into a multi-year agreement that includes the deployment of Checkpoint's electronic article surveillance solutions in all of its existing and future stores.

The rollout in the chain's existing 7,900 stores is expected to be completed by December 2014.

Saks chairman and CEO Stephen Sadove has been named to the board of directors at J.C. Penney to fill a position being vacated by Geraldine Laybourne.

Sadove will be leaving his position at Saks soon as the upscale department store chain was recently sold to Hudson’s Bay Company. Sadove joined Saks in 2002 as vice chairman and assumed the additional post of chief operating officer in 2004. He became CEO in 2006 and the following year was named chairman.