Strategy

Chelmsford, Mass. -- A report released Tuesday by Kronos said that the retail hiring levels have reached the highest mark in nearly three years. The Kronos Retail Labor Index, which characterizes the current state of the demand and supply sides of the labor market within the U.S. retail sector, rose to 3.9% in September, reflecting a strong gain in hires and a modest decline in applications, all on a seasonally adjusted basis. (A level of 3.0% means that for every 100 applications received, three hires occurred).

DALLAS — Continued softness in the home and housewares category is evident at Tuesday Morning, which said it expects the loss per share for the first quarter to be in the range of 12 cents to 13 cents.

Tuesday Morning reported that sales for its first quarter ended Sept. 30 were down 1.2% to $170.7 million from $172.8 million last year. The company said comparable-stores were down 4.1% comprised of a 5.2% decrease in traffic offset by a 1.1% increase in average ticket. 

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said Tuesday it has added two executives to its pharmacy, health and wellness division.

Dr. Jeffrey Kang will join the company on Oct. 31 as senior VP health and wellness services and solutions.

In addition, Mike Ellis has joined Walgreens as VP specialty pharmacy and infusion.

Most recently, Kang was chief medical officer at CIGNA. Ellis has served as senior VP specialty trade relations and contracting and pharmaceutical services for CVS Caremark.

New York City -- Apparel manufacturer and retailer The Jones Group confirmed Tuesday that it is in discussions to divest its jeanswear division for between $350 million to $400 million.

The potential buyer is Israeli clothing maker Delta Galil Industries.

Jones Group, whose brands include Anne Klein and Nine West, said talks should conclude within a month, but cautioned that no deal has been reached. If the two were to reach a deal, Jones said it would use net proceeds for share repurchases.

New York City -- Former American Apparel CFO Adrian Kowalewski resigned as executive VP corporate strategy, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission this morning, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

Kowalewski entered into a separation agreement, in which he will receive an unpaid base salary through the Oct. 7 separation date, any unreimbursed expenses and vesting of the 1,066,666 unvested shares of restricted stock previously awarded to him, the report said.
 

New York City -- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index, released Tuesday, showed a decrease in September to 100.95, down from the revised figure of 101.37 in August. The September figure is up 4.4% from the same month a year ago.

Commerce, Calif. -- Discounter 99 Cents Only Stores said Tuesday it has agreed to be acquired by a group of investors including its founding family, Ares Management and Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board for $1.6 billion in cash.

The announcement ends a months-long sales process, which started with a takeover offer from Leonard Green & Partners in March.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced that Office Depot stores hold the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains at the midpoint of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition.