Retail

Former Walmart chief merchandising officer John Fleming was named to the board of advisors at the online shopper engagement firm Jingit.

Walmart and Target should see an influx of parents in the coming months, as both retailers topped the list of where consumers plan to do most of their back-to-school shopping this year, according to The NPD Group.

NPD asked the the open-end question:  “Where do you plan to do most of the back to school shopping for your child(ren)?" Out of 1,760 mentions of retailers where parents plan to do back to school shopping on behalf of their kids, Walmart secured 36% of them, followed by Target at 20%.

HOUSTON — Retail financial services provider Cardtronics announced that its Harris Teeter- located ATMs will be branded by PNC Bank. The ATMs will be surcharge-free fro PNC Bank customers. Harris Teeter operates a regional chain of supermarkets, with its base of operations in North Carolina. Cardtronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATM) is the world's largest retail ATM owner.  

Profits at Amazon.com declined 96% to $7 million, or a penny a share, even though sales advanced 29% to $12.8 billion.

The ongoing build out of Amazon.com’s supply chain infrastructure hurt the company’s overall profitability, but positioned the company to deliver an even better shopper experience in the future. Amazon.com expects to open approximately 18 new warehouses this year.

HAMILTON, BERMUDA — Specialty retail jeweler, Signet Jewelers, has named a Procter & Gamble executive to its board of directors.

Virginia Drosos, group president global beauty, skin, cosmetics and personal care for Procter & Gamble, who will retire from this position effective Sept. 1, joined the Signet board on July 25.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot is raising awareness for its stores as a destination for affordable food with the help of two contest winners. Molly Stankovsky and Alex Frecon, who won a national competition, will lead the retailer's "2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip" across 18 cities in 30 days.

PITTSBURGH — GNC recently extended its relationship with Sam's Club, the company announced in conjunction with its second-quarter results.

Beginning in third quarter 2012, GNC's presence in all Sam's Club locations will incorporate established shelf space with branded signage, adding to the existing rotational assortment program.

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma has promoted Julie Whalen, SVP, acting CFO, has been appointed EVP, CFO.