Strategy

New York City -- Tommy Bahama will open its first store in New York City, on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street, according to The Wall Street Journal. The 8,500-sq.-ft. store is expected to open by the end of 2011.

The 89-store Tommy Bahama chain is a subsidiary of Oxford Industries, which recently acquired the Lilly Pulitzer brand.

Retailers who report monthly sales are set to report their best December results in several years this Thursday assuming preseason forecasts and in-season upward revisions prove accurate. Total holiday sales are forecast to increase in the low- to mid-single digits, and Thursday’s monthly results from the likes of Target, Macy’s, Kohl’s, TJX and others will offer an indication of how good a season it was.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Building on its plans to open 625 new stores in fiscal 2011, Dollar General Corp. announced that it will create 6,000 new jobs. The new stores and jobs will be spread among Dollar General’s existing 35-state operating area, as well as three new states: Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire.

In addition to 625 new stores, the company plans to remodel or relocate 550 stores.

New York City -- Borders Group is delaying payments to some of its vendors, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday. The news came just weeks after the company said it was trying to obtain new financing to avoid violating the terms of its credit agreements early next year.

"As part of this potential refinancing, Borders has determined that it is necessary to restructure its vendor financing arrangements and is delaying payments to certain of its vendors," Borders spokeswoman Mary Davis said by phone, in a Reuters report.

Executives from The Container Store and Urban Outfitters are among the retailers who will be honored at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention and EXPO, or BIG Show, which will be held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, Jan. 9-12, 2011.

The recipients will accept their awards during the show’s Annual Retail Industry Luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

With Target set to release December sales results this Thursday, the issue isn’t whether the company’s results will be in line with expectations but the degree by which they are likely to exceed same-store sales guidance in the low- to mid-single digit range.

By Craig R. Johnson

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. - Dollar General announced that in addition to opening 625 new stores in fiscal 2011, it intends to create 6,000 new jobs. 

“Bringing our store model of convenience and value to more people in more states is an exciting opportunity for us,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “We believe the new communities and states we are entering will benefit from the new jobs, shopping choices and dedication to community found at Dollar General.“