Retail

NEW YORK - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that Kelli Turner will step down as the company's CFO and will be leaving to join a private company in the near future. A search for MSLO's new CFO is currently underway, the company reported. In the interim, MSLO controller Allison Jacques will serve as the company's principal financial and accounting officer.

CUPERTINO, California - Apple Thursday introduced its Mac App Store, which it claims boasts more than 1,000 free and paid apps. According to the company, the Mac App Store brings the App Store experience to the Mac, enabling users to buy apps using their iTunes account, download and install them in just one step. 

“With more than 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store is off to a great start,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think users are going to love this innovative new way to discover and buy their favorite apps.”

Philadelphia -- Teen value retailer Five Below said that the company is launching a major expansion into Chicago, with the signing of 12 store leases.

The new stores, which are planned to open in the spring, are the first of up to 20 new stores that will open in the Chicago market this year, according to the company.

Over the next three to five years, Five Below anticipates expanding its foothold in Chicagoland and increasing the number of stores in the region to as many as 60 locations.

RICHMOND HILL, ON and LAS VEGAS - Lexmark Canada has launched the latest addition to its award-winning lineup of Web-connected, all-in-one (AIO) inkjet printers – Lexmark Genesis.

The Lexmark Genesis targets professionals, small business and home office customers who are looking for an AIO printer that has innovative technology, is highly productive and is also bold and stylish, the company stated in a press release.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co.’s December same-store sales fell 4% as softness continued in its sales of televisions and entertainment software.

The retailer, which also reaffirmed its 2011 profit outlook, said on Friday that same-store sales in its domestic segment fell 5% and 0.1% internationally.

Overall sales in the month slipped 1.6% to $8.4 billion.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Pier 1 Imports' same-store sales rose 10.3% in December, helped in part by more customers and higher average receipts. The company lifted its fourth quarter guidance.

Pier I used fewer promotions and clearance prices during the month than it did last year, said president and CEO Alex Smith in a statement.

Vernon Hills, Ill. -- Beachwood, Ohio-based Chase Properties announced that Hawthorn Hills Square in Vernon Hills, Ill., is being redeveloped to coincide with the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods (December 2010) and PetSmart and Five Below that are expected to open in the spring. Additionally, Noodles will be opening a new freestanding restaurant at the center in the fall.

LAS VEGAS - Reporting from the Consumer Electronics Show, Best Buy said that revenue for the fiscal month of December ended Jan. 1, decreased 1.6% to $8.4 billion. The revenue decline for the five-week period, as compared with $8.5 billion in revenue for the five-week period ended Jan. 2, 2010, was due primarily to a comparable-store sales decline of 4% partially offset by the addition of new stores in the past 12 months and the favorable impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.