Research Topic

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it seems like you can’t pick up a paper or click a mouse lately without reading about some big box retailer rolling out its smaller store format. Target has its new 60,000-square-foot CityTarget concept, while Walmart has Walmart Neighborhood Market and Walmart Express stores. It seems like everyone is downsizing.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Amazon.com was the top performer in a review of the Top 100 online retailers by ForeSee Results. The annual report, Top 100 E-Retail Satisfaction Index, includes individual satisfaction scores with the 100 top e-retailers for the past seven years, allowing for comparisons over time and between companies.

Turns out Shakespeare’s famous line, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” doesn’t quite fit with every scenario. Case in point, Wal-Mart Stores, which, according to Millward Brown Optimor’s BrandZ ranking of the top 20 global retail brands, saw its brand value diminish when it decided to rename its Wal-Mart stores, Walmart. 

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. CEO and chairman David Dillon saw his pay fell again as the chain's sales and profit growth fell below tough targets amid continuing economic instability.

An Associated Press analysis shows Dillon received compensation for 2011 valued at $5.4 million, down 19% from 2009. It is the third straight year in which Dillon's largely performance-based pay fell.

The AP's calculation counts salary, bonuses, perks and stock and options awarded to the executive during the year.
 

Many Walmart shoppers happen to be NASCAR fans, so it makes sense that the retailer would host exclusive events around big races in key markets.

In Charlotte, N.C., and Dover, Del., select Walmart stores will offer customers the chance to check out racing simulator machines and stock car displays and enjoy special driver appearances throughout the month of May.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales rose 0.5% in April after a 0.9% increase in March, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. It was the tenth straight increase and came as consumers spent more on gasoline, clothing and autos in April.

Much of the gain in April, however, came from a surge in gasoline and food prices. Excluding a 2.7% jump in gasoline sales, the increase was a much smaller 0.2%.

Grocery stores sales jumped 1.5% -- triple the March increase. That partly reflected higher food prices.

Reston, Va. -- Online U.S. retail spending reached $38.0 billion for the first quarter, up 12% versus year ago, according to comScore. It marked the sixth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

Organic growth initiatives come out on top (46%) when it comes to how to increase market share, followed by a mix of organic growth and M&A (22%) and primarily M&A (22%), according to a survey of 152 senior financial executives of global retail companies by KPMG International.