Seasonal

SAN MATEO, Calif. — New data released Friday by Motista suggests that retailers should look beyond the traditional set of holiday emotions, such as family and giving, to understand what’s really motivating consumers to spend more. The data also revealed different ways in which men and women interact and connect with retailers, which may be useful as retailers plan their holiday marketing campaigns.

New York City -- Spencer Gifts, a mainstay of malls across North America, has leased its first-ever location in Manhattan. The 60-year-old chain operates more than 600 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

As one of Spencer’s few free-standing locations, the store, located downtown near New York University, encompasses over 1,840 sq. ft. on the ground floor. It is due  to open in advance of the holiday season.

If you’re peeking at the news between slats in your fingers, scared to see where the S&P 500 sits or what’s happening with the NASDAQ, the Dow and the price of oil, you’re quite obviously not alone. Each day is a frightening new one, and no one – not even economists – are quite sure what’s going to happen next.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Monday celebrates the re-opening of two Joplin, Mo., stores just 90 days after one was severely damaged and the other demolished by a tornado that swept through the city on May 22. The drug stores are the first major retailers in the area to re-open since the storm.

The store at Range Line Road and 20th Street was completely rebuilt from the foundation up at a pace faster than any other store in the company’s 110-year history.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop reported a same-store sales decline of 9.1% for the second quarter on slow hardware sales and a lighter software slate than the prior year quarter. Despite the poor performance in new hardware and software, the company said pre-owned sales were strong for the quarter.

Total sales for the second quarter of 2011 were $1.74 billion, a decrease of 3.1% compared to $1.80 billion in the prior year quarter. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hibbett Sports reported that net sales for the second quarter ended July 30 increased 9.5% to $153.1 million compared with $139.8 million for the second quarter ended July 31, 2010. Comparable-store sales increased 5.9%.

Net income for the quarter increased 48% to $5.9 million compared with $4 million for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share increased 56.4% to 21 cents compared with 14 cents for the same period last year.