Seasonal

Lucky Charms cereal is marking its 50th anniversary with a 50-day celebration featuring its longtime mascot Lucky the leprechaun.

The celebration kicked off last night with a tribute ad featuring pop vocal sensation Pentatonix singing his jingle. The festivities will culminate on Lucky's 50th birthday. St. Patrick's Day, March 17. Throughout the 50-day celebration, surprises will pop up across the country and online.

Although Starbucks’ profit in the first quarter rose a better-than-expected 25% to $540.7 million from $432 million in the year-ago period, same-store sales missed Wall Street expectations.

Same-store sales rose 5%, beneath Wall Street expectations of 5.9%. Revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 29, 2013 rose 12% to $4.24 billion from $3.79 billion.

Same-store sales in the Americas region also rose 5%, while analysts had expected a 6.4% increase.

The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) said that Michigan's retail industry had a poor holiday shopping season thanks to damaging winter storms and “outdated government policies that favor out-of-state online companies.”

Retailers posted only a 0.1% average increase over last holiday season, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of MRA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Toronto -- The HBC Department Store Group announced the launch of a new mobile shopping application for both its Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor divisions that allows customers to instantly buy products seen in print by simply scanning an image.

HBC is partnering with Pounce, a mobile app that turns static print ads into instant digital storefronts by enabling customers to scan product images and complete a purchase in less than 30 seconds. It provides a secure, one-tap checkout, integrating with the retailer’s existing e-commerce system

Mars Chocolate North America will debut a new 30-second M&M'S Peanut commercial in the first half of Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, featuring Yellow.

Yellow was first introduced along with M&M'S Peanut in 1954. But the character usually plays second fiddle to Red.

Meijer customers donated more than $510,000 during the company’s holiday Simply Give campaign, helping food pantries throughout the Midwest restock their shelves.

Combined with a donation from Meijer, the holiday campaign raised more than $1.2 million, making it the most successful campaign since Simply Give began in November 2008.

February 2014 is projected to be the coldest in four years and drier than last year for the U.S. as a whole. Much colder year-on-year trends will be widespread at the start of the month, especially across the Central U.S. The axis of colder temperatures shifts to the Northern Tier of the U.S. by the second week of the month. Much colder trends early in the month will help to clear remaining winter merchandise. A taste of spring arrives in the Deep South in retail week three, making this a favorable time for categories such as sun care, apparel and cold beverages.

In anticipation of the theatrical release of “The LEGO Movie” Friday, Feb. 7, Toys “R” Us is unveiling a dedicated feature shop in stores nationwide Thursday, Jan. 30, as well as online at Toysrus.com/LEGO.

Customers will be able to find the latest movie-inspired products as well as recreate their favorite scenes from the first-ever full-length LEGO adventure film. Toys “R” Us will also host a special event, and offer gifts with purchase and a chance to win prizes, while supplies last.