Retail

New York -- When retailers discuss a social media strategy, they usually mean something involving reaching out to customers through popular social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. And while that is an important marketing technique to engage modern consumers, social media can also serve as a powerful internal communications and engagement platform. For example, quick service hamburger chain Red Robin uses the Yammer enterprise social network to directly link employees to senior management and each other in real time.

STRATHAM, N.H. — Timberland has released its 2012 CSR performance data, showcasing the company's sustainability efforts for that year.

Among those efforts were the following:
•    39% of materials used in Timberland-branded apparel were derived from recycled, organic or renewable sources
•    98% of footwear SKUs used leather sourced from gold or silver rated tanneries

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer spending dropped 0.2% in April 2013, according to the Commerce Department.

It was the first monthly decline since May of last year and follows increases of 0.1% in March and 0.8% in February. Falling gas prices in April were part of the reason for the drop in spending, with purchases of gas, electricity and other energy goods and services down 4.4%.

In addition, increased Social Security deductions in consumer paychecks may have also contributed to the decline in spending.

Foxborough, Mass. -- Ulta Beauty opened its newest location on May 24 at Patriot Place, in Foxborough, Mass. The 10,000-sq.-ft. store in Patriot Place’s South Marketplace is the beauty chain’s eighth Massachusetts location.
 

Minneapolis -- Target said it will introduce its Beauty Concierge program to 27 stores in Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Baltimore on June 28. The program calls for an on-staff “Beauty Concierge” – a trained, brand-agnostic beauty advisor – who provides personal-care advice and beauty tips in the Target beauty aisle.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Despite a dip in comparable store sales for the first quarter ended May 4, Fred’s topped the high end of its earnings guidance for the period.

Queens, N.Y. -- South Korean skin care brand Amore has opened a 1,600-sq.-ft. store at The Shops at SkyView Center. The new store, which grand-opened on May 24, is located on Level B and joins Restoration Hardware Outlet, Target, Carter’s, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Marshall’s, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy, among others.

Columbus, Ohio -- Express Inc. reported Thursday that its third-quarter net income fell 23% to $32.4 million, compared with $42.1 million in the same period last year. Results, impacted by heavier discounting and higher costs, still beat Wall Street’s estimates.  

Revenue climbed 3% to $508.5 million, solidly topping analysts’ estimate of $498 million and prompting the apparel retailer to lift its full-year earnings forecast. Same-store sales were flat in the quarter, after a 4% gain last year.