Seasonal

WASHINGTON — If NRF's predictions come true, moms will be in for an especially good Mother's Day this year. According to NRF’s 2012 Mother’s Day consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- In celebration of Earth Day, Stater Bros. said that six of the company's newest supermarkets in California have earned the prestigious EPA GreenChill Gold Award for meeting tough environmental standards and using ozone-friendly refrigerants. The certifications are good for one year. Four of the locations also received GreenChill Gold Awards in 2011 (Grand Terrace, Moreno Valley, Cathedral City and Carlsbad).

Stater Bros. is the only Southern California grocer to have six stores that are certified at the Gold Level.

NEW YORK — Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, has launched AnnCares360, a program in partnership with Good360, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy. The program will facilitate the donation of available displays, marketing items, and fixtures to local charities that support women and children.

Through the program, all Ann Inc. stores can enter valued, reusable goods into a tracking system that will link to Good360's online product donation marketplace and its network of more than 26,000 charities.

New York -- Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, announced the launch of AnnCares360, a program in partnership with Good360, a nonprofit leader in product philanthropy. The program will facilitate the donation of available displays, marketing items, and fixtures to local charities that support women and children.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — In honor of Earth Day, Sears Holdings is currently offering several discounts and product promotions designed to help customers improve their environmental performance. These include up to 25% off all Energy Star qualified appliances at Sears plus up to 25% off all dryers plus extra 5% off all appliances with your Sears card through April 19.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Tuesday that it completed the $270 million sale of 11 full-line Sears store locations to General Growth Properties.

Sears said the stores will continue to operate as Sears locations into 2013 or 2014, with final closing dates to be announced later this year. The stores are in Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Sears announced in December it would close between 100 and 120 stores to raise cash after a disappointing holiday season.
 

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. will celebrate Earth Day by distributing 1.5 million reusable bags in all of its stores on April 22.

In addition, Target will offer guests simple, sustainable solutions and more than $50 in savings on sustainable products throughout April in our stores and via a limited-time website. The retailer also will partner with Recyclebank, an organization that promotes sustainable decisions by allowing individuals to earn rewards for actions like recycling and reducing water use.

Hingham, Mass. -- Talbots Inc.’s fourth-quarter loss widened to $53.2 million for the period ended Jan. 28, not as bad as analysts expected, compared to a loss  of $2.8 million in the year ago. Its results were pressured by restructuring and executive retirement costs, as well as increased mark-downs and promotions. The chain also forecast first-quarter revenue that missed analysts' expectations. Revenue for the quarter slipped 1% to $289.4 million from $292.6 million, but beat Wall Street's estimate of $267.9 million. Same-store sales were flat.