Strategy

El Segundo, Calif. -- Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.’s first-quarter net income fell 54% and missed analysts' expectations because of increased expenses as customer traffic declined.

The company also gave a second-quarter earnings outlook much lower than Wall Street's view.

Big 5 reported late Tuesday that it earned $2.8 million for the period ended April 3, down from $5 million a year ago.

New York City -- Harry & David Holdings, which filed for Chapter 11 in March, asked the court Tuesday for permission to hire a real estate consultant to help close 50 of its 122 stores.

The company seeks approval to hire DJM Realty Services, a subsidiary of the Gordon Brothers Group. The filing said that DJM also could help Harry & David renegotiate leases with landlords for 69 of its other stores

New York City -- The Maine House on Wednesday voted to effectively repeal the Informed Growth Act, a law that was enacted four years ago to protect Maine's downtown business districts from big-box stores, The Portland Press Herald reported.

The vote, while a preliminary one, followed an impassioned debate about the character of Maine's traditional downtowns and whether Wal-Mart and other large national chains have hurt local businesses or have helped them by attracting more people to communities, the report said.

Lubbock, Texas -- United Supermarkets officially entered the convenience market on Wednesday with the opening of its first United Express location, in Lubbock, Texas. It is the company’s first standalone convenience store.

The location includes a six-pump fuel station and will feature fresh offerings along with the traditional items guests would expect to find at a convenience store.

New York City -- Dunkin’ Brands Group, which operates the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains, filed to sell at least $400 million of stock in an initial public offering.

The Canton, Mass.-based company plans to use the proceeds to repay debt and for working capital and general corporate purposes, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Dunkin' Brands was taken private in 2005 by a trio of private-equity firms for $2.4 billion in cash.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores said that by the end of the year it will have invested the equivalent of approximately $756 million to expand its operations in Brazil.

Marcos Samaha, president of Wal-Mart's Brazilian subsidiary, said in a Tuesday statement that 1.2 billion reals ($755 million) will be used to build 80 stores, renovate existing locations and improve logistics.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings will host its annual meeting on May 4, and attendees present will likely want to know how the company plans to improve sales and return to profitability under the leadership of its new CEO, Lou D’Ambrosio.  

The consulting firm Gravitytank named Bob Thacker as a strategic advisor to help the firm’s consumer electronics, retail, consumer packaged goods and technology clients. Thacker most recently served as SVP of marketing and advertising at OfficeMax and was with Target from 1989 to 1998 as a VP of marketing. He also served as president and CEO of BBDO in Minneapolis and served as an SVP of marketing at Sears.

WASHINGTON -- Mobile and social initiatives are becoming increasingly important to retailers. According to “The State Of Retailing Online 2011: Marketing, Social, and Mobile” report conducted by Forrester Research Inc. for Shop.org, 91% of retailers currently have a mobile strategy in place or in development (up from 74% a year ago). Additionally, 72% of retailers say they will increase their spending on social networks this year over last year. “

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that Christine Pollack has joined the association as VP government relations, focusing on healthcare policy and serving as one of RILA’s lead advocates on core retail industry priorities.