Seasonal

CINCINNATI — Febreze has launched a collection of scents specifically designed for the bedroom. The brand has partnered with the National Sleep Foundation and actress Alyssa Milano to promote healthy sleep habits, with a focus on adult bedtime routines that help you relax. 

Multichannel integration hasn’t exactly been Target’s strong suit to date, but this holiday season could be different if the company is able to successfully roll out an order online, pick up in store service.

Retailers were already leery about the outlook for consumer spending this holiday season and reports Wednesday of record auto sales in August only add to the concern.

Both Walmart and Target reported disappointing second quarter sales and tempered their outlook for the full year. Conversely, car salespeople across the country were clinking champagne glasses and cashing commission checks as their employers, everyone from Mazda to Honda to Porsche and Ford, said August was a record month.

Alpharetta, Ga. – Seeking to boost the capacity and performance of its data center to handle the real-time decisions needed to meet seasonal demand for its 300 stores, HoneyBaked Ham of Georgia is using HP 3PAR Dynamic Optimization Software and HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage. The solutions nondisruptively add and rebalance capacity and system resources to handle changes in business demand on the fly.

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported a loss for its fourth quarter amid weaker sales and markdowns.

The apparel chain posted a loss of $20.8 million for the three-month period ended July 6, compared with net income of $3 million in the fourth quarter last year.

Bebe's total revenue edged down to $119.2 million, from $131.5 million.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell’s Chunky soup, the official soup sponsor of the NFL, is renewing the Mama’s Boy campaign for the 2013 season, this time tapping Green Bay Packers linebacker and Super Bowl XLV champion Clay Matthews as its spokesperson.

In conjunction with the new ad campaign, Campbell will kick off the upcoming season with three new soups inspired by a classic sports pub menu: Hearty Cheeseburger, Spicy Chicken Quesadilla and Philly-Style Cheesesteak.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion will kick off its Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Fall Football Campaign this week. The campaign will run through Sept. 17 to support local children and their families receiving medical care from 26 children's hospitals.

Hamilton, Bermuda -- Signet Jewelers Ltd.’s net income fell to $67.4 million for the quarter ended Aug. 3, down from $70.7 million a year earlier, impacted by the Mother’s Day calendar shift.  

Total sales increased 3.1% to $880.2 million, fueled by strong sales at the company’s Kay Jewelers and Jared stores in the United States. Sales were soft at its British chains.

Same-store sales were up 3.6%. At Kay, same-store sales rose 5.8%.

Retailers will be promoting early and often during the upcoming holiday season, especially with six fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and mobile is sure to play an even greater role this year than it did in 2012.

As if competing against Target, Best Buy and Amazon.com isn’t challenging enough, nationwide the fast-food “strike” which took place Thursday offered a glimpse of the type of headline-grabbing, disruptive activities Walmart can expect from its opponents this holiday season.