Corporate Governance

Easter may be over but Nickelodeon and Nordstrom are hoping rabbit inspired merchandise continues to resonate with shoppers this spring.

Staples has unveiled a new plan called EasyTech Total Support, which provides consumers and small businesses with comprehensive technology services for both their new and old PCs, including upgrades, maintenance and installations.

The service builds on the company’s EasyTech program launched in 2007.

nGage Labs, a leading provider of personalized mobile engagement solutions, has named Kyle Hollaway as chief technology officer.

As CTO, Hollaway will lead the nGage Labs Analytics Innovation team in developing real-time personalization analytics that differentiates the company's mobile customer engagement solutions. He leads an entire team of architects, analysts, modelers, and developers in continuing to create deeper levels of individual customer insights and actionable intelligence.

Nearly two months after Sears set it free, Lands' End has named Steven Rado as SVP, chief marketing officer.

Rado will guide a team of 50 professionals across marketing operations including consumer insights, forecasting and analytics, catalog, digital marketing, customer acquisition, e-commerce, public relations and advertising.

Lifetime Brands, a leading global provider of branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home, is seeing the results of its aggressive growth strategy — which included the acquisition of four businesses during the period — in the first quarter ended March 31.

Consolidated net sales for the quarter were $118.4 million, soaring 20% from $98.7 million for the corresponding period in 2013.

Despite what president and CEO Ajay Banga called a “mixed global economy,” MasterCard Incorporated kicked off the year with a strong quarter.

The company reported net income of $870 million, up 14%, and earnings per diluted share of $0.73, up 18%, in each case versus the year-ago period.

Kellogg Company said that its first-quarter results for earnings per share were greater than the company's expectations, while results for operating profit were in-line with expectations, thanks in part to Project K — the company’s global cost-cutting initiative.

Net sales for the quarter decreased 3.1% to $3.7 billion. Internal net sales, which exclude the effects of foreign currency translation, acquisitions, dispositions and integration costs, decreased 2.4% over the same period.  

GNC is launching a month-long fundraising and awareness campaign for Run With US! at more than 5,000 GNC stores and online at GNC.com.

Run With US! is a curriculum-based health and wellness program that brings elite track and field athletes and aspiring Olympians into the classroom to demonstrate how exercise and nutrition go hand-in-hand with goal setting and self-esteem.

Similar to the overall retail sector, HSN’s first quarter results were affected by severe weather across the country, as well as softness in women's apparel, particularly at Garnet Hill. The company did report improved performance at HSNi, as demand strengthened throughout March.

Rite Aid posted $2 billion for the four weeks ended April 26, representing a lift of 4.9%. Same-store sales increased 5% over the prior-year period.

April front-end same-store sales increased 4.7%, with 4.6% of the increase attributable to a shift in the timing of Easter, which fell on April 20 this year, compared with March 31 last year. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 138 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 5.2%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 2.3% over the prior-year period.