Seasonal

Target is scheduled to release monthly sales for March this Thursday, and the company has already indicated its same-store sales figures won’t be pretty due to the late arrival of Easter. The holiday isn’t until April 24 this year, so the bulk of sales related to Easter will occur in April whereas last year Easter fell on April 4, so a greater percentage of seasonal sales fell in March.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears announced that it has launched the Sears Blue Tool Crew "Do It Together" program to honor unsung heroes who use their tools and talents for the greater good of the community. According to Sears DIT is the national expansion of the "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference" Father's Day initiative that recognized dads across the country in 2010.  

AUSTIN, Texas — Proving that natural food stores have a sense of humor, Whole Foods hosted a faux website homepage to celebrate April Fools' Day.

The homepage featured such items as "insects raised with compassion," stinky cheese lipstick and bizarre recipes. The retailer even featured a video about finding love at its stores on both the website and its Facebook fan page. Needless to say, it received many "likes."

Profit grew by nearly 10% to $123.2 million and sales advanced 8.3% to nearly $2.3 billion, as Family Dollar remained on a consistent growth trajectory during its second quarter ended Feb. 27. Earnings per share for the period increased 21% to 98 cents compared with 81 cents in the second quarter the prior year.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Procter & Gamble announced that it has teamed up with its grocery retail partners to create a mobile app designed to help consumers live and shop more sustainably. The app, called "My Carbon Footprint," works on iPhone, iPad or Droid devices is an interactive, social media-enabled carbon footprint gauge powered by P&G's Future Friendly initiative, P&G reported. It will become available on Earth Day, April 22.

BERLIN, N.J. -- A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts reported that sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 were $143.2 million, a decrease of 4.4% compared with sales of $149.7 million during the fourth quarter of last year. This decline was primarily attributable to a decrease in comparable-store sales of 4.3% during the quarter. Net loss was $4.8 million, or 20 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or 2 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Berlin, N.J. -- A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts reported Tuesday that net loss for the quarter ended Jan. 1 was $4.8 million, widened from a loss of $500,000 in the year-ago period.

Sales for the fourth quarter decreased 4.4% $143.2 million, from $149.7 million. Same-store sales fell 4.3%.

Burlington, N.J. -- Purchase, N.Y.-based National Realty & Development Corp. said Monday it will expand Liberty Square Center in Burlington, N.J. The construction will take place over the next 12 months and is scheduled to be completed in spring 2012.

CLEVELAND — American Greetings is making kids' birthday cards extra special with its Surprise Inside line.

Each Surprise Inside card features a surprise gift pouch inside that the child can open to reveal a small toy that coordinates with the card's theme, the company said. A sticker reveals to the sender what the secret gift will be.

Chicago -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Dollar Tree recently signed a lease for 10,900 sq. ft. at West Aurora Plaza in West Aurora, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago.

The new store is slated to open this June in a former Aronson Furniture space.