Retail

New York -- Dollar General Corp. will open 635 new stores in 2013, creating some 6,000 jobs. The chain will also relocate 550 stores this year.

With the addition of these jobs in 2013, Dollar General said it will have created approximately 30,000 jobs in the last six years.

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. — Kohl's has engaged Oracle's services to integrate core retail operations across the company's 1,146 stores in 49 states.

Oracle solutions will help Kohl's by providing an integrated, scalable retail suite of applications to streamline merchandising and planning while enabling its multi-channel growth strategy.

By Akhilesh Srivastava, akhileshcs@us.ibm.com

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.  — Ikea reported that sales for its fiscal year 2012 grew by 9.5% and profits were up 8% to $4.2 billion, thanks to its model of offering low-cost, functional furniture. Comparable-store sales were up 8% at its U.S. stores.

Mahwah, N.J. -- Connecticut retailer Pilgrim Furniture City has expanded its relationship with TD Retail Card Services, moving from the company’s Renovate Card program to a branded private label card created specifically for Pilgrim customers.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. announced a $2 million donation to Discovery World in Milwaukee, over three years to continue support for Kohl’s Design It!, an educational program allowing kids to use advanced technology to turn design into reality. The donation comes from the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program which sells special merchandise, including plush toys and books, and donates 100% of the net profit to benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.

Former Haggar executive Paul Buxbaum was named CEO of apparel manufacturer Hampshire Group.

Buxbaum, 57, replaces Heath Golden who resigned as president and CEO and also plans to vacate his position as a board member.

"Heath Golden has overseen Hampshire through a difficult period in its history and led a transformation of our business, resulting in a company with prospects of growth and profitability," said board chairman Peter Woodward.

New York -- Consumer products executives expect their highest growth to come from the warehouse club channel compared with any other retail sales channel over the next three years, including mass merchandise, grocery, and e-commerce, according to new research from Deloitte.