Retailer Campaigns

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Cos. net income rose 26% in the third quarter, just short of projections, amid the housing market's ongoing resurgence. The retailer raised its fiscal 2013 outlook, but its earnings forecast was still below expectations.

Lowe's earned $499 million for the period ended Nov. 1, up from $396 million last year. Its earnings were a penny per share short of Wall Street expectations.

Revenue rose 7% to $12.96 billion from $12.07 billion, beating analysts’ predictions. Same-store sales increased 6.2%.

Despite posting a larger-than-expected loss for its third quarter, J.C. Penney pointed to hopeful signs that its business is starting to stabilize as its heads into the holiday season.

Penney reported a loss of $489 million in the three months ended Nov.2, compared with a loss of $123 million in the year-ago period.

Sales fell 5.1% to $2.78 billion. Same-store sales were down 4.8%, but the period ended with its first monthly gain since December 2011. And online sales rose 24.5%, to $266 million.

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots will open at 7 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and 6 a.m. on Black Friday. The retailer will offer one-day special offers on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Saturday as well as three-day discounts.

In addition, on all three days, shoppers who spend $50 or more will receive a coupon worth $10 off their next purchase between Dec. 1 to Dec. 14.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a national observance that runs annually from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. President Ronald Reagan extended the observance from a week to a month in 1998.

The Macerich Company embraced Hispanic Heritage Month this year as a way of recognizing its large Hispanic customer base. Thirty-one Macerich properties hosted special events celebrating the richness of Latin culture throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Walmart will kick off a pre-Black Friday savings event in stores and online at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. The big box retailer is lowering prices on toys and electronics to match select Black Friday offers from Target, Toys “R” Us and Best Buy one week early.

Pittsburgh -- Sales growth fueled in part by the opening of 25 new branded stores did not prevent Dick’s Sporting Goods from reporting a slight decline in net income during the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income totaled about $50 million, down incrementally from $50.1 million a year earlier.

Net sales totaled $1.4 billion, up 7% from $1.31 billion. Consolidated same-store sales rose 0.3%, beating company estimates of a 2-3% decline.

Bentonville, Ark. -- At 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, Wal-Mart will kick off a pre-Black Friday savings event in stores and online, lowering the prices on popular toys and electronics, to match select Black Friday offers from Target, Toys R' Us and Best Buy one week early.

Cincinnati — To supply families in need with fresh food this holiday season, Kroger customers and associates will be able to purchase pre-filled bags and boxes of food to be added to collection barrels.