Retail

By Steven Kramer, steven.kramer@hybris.com

Sporting a physical design identical to the iPhone 4 and a total lack of expected features, initial reactions to the iPhone 4S were that it hardly seemed capable of living up to Apple’s claim as “the most amazing iPhone yet”.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets reported Monday that net income for the year ended Dec. 31 increased 10.7% to $75.6 million. Sales for the period rose 5% to $2.8 billion, and same-store sales increased 4.2%.

In the fourth quarter, the grocer saw an even stronger performance, as net income surged 37%, sales rose 11.4% and comps increased 4.8%.
 

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced that two regional presidents, David Lannon and Ken Meyer, have been promoted to executive VPs of operations, joining the executive leadership team. The company's 12 regional presidents will report to them.

Atlanta -- Mild weather over much of the country spurred increased retail card spending growth in January, according to First Data Corp.’s SpendTrend, which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

Overall year-over-year dollar volume growth was 7.0% in January, while overall transaction growth was 7.2%. Mild winter weather nationwide resulted in lower energy demands, providing consumers with additional income to spend at retailers.

Walmart’s goal of making food healthier and healthier food more affordable is a noble undertaking that has favorably affected the company’s reputation and put it in good stead with the Obama administration. The question that remains, as the company begins affixing to products and packaging its new “Great For You” food label unveiled this week in Washington D.C., is whether shoppers will behave in a manner consistent with their stated intentions.

Ron Johnson isn’t afraid of making waves. Just as my page-neighbor Jeff Green suggested in his latest column, “A Penney for your Thoughts,” the Apple-CEO-turned-JCP-chief is keenly focused on reinventing a department store dinosaur into a sleek, well-oiled retail machine. And if that means reneging on prior deals, so be it.

In case you missed it, Kate Berg, president of Bentonville-based Collective Bias, shared her views about where social media is headed and what it means for brands in the most recent issue of Connecting Northwest Arkansas. Berg is helping invent the future at the rapidly growing social shopper agency so it’s worth taking a minute to get inside her head. Read more.

Champaign, Ill. -- Electronics and appliances retailer Hhgregg is taking a 35,000-sq.-ft. space left vacant by defunct Linens ‘N Things, at Champaign Town Center in Champaign, Ill.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores will open a 17,820-sq.-ft. store in the same shopping center. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management made the announcements.

Both stores are estimated to open in spring 2012, and will be adjacent tenants.