Consumer Electronics

Walldorf, Germany – Retailers should consider waiting until August to launch back-to-school promotions and focus them heavily on online shoppers. According to new data from SAP, consumer sentiment toward back-to-school advertising doesn’t become positive till the end of July.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- Sears Canada Inc. announced the opening of a new 240,000-sq.-ft. fulfillment center located in Calgary, Alberta.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. on Thursday reported a second-quarter profit of $24.6 million, up from $10.5 million in the year ago period.

Revenue rose 25% to a better-than-expected $1.73 billion, helped by new game releases as well as solid sales of gaming hardware.

Miami -- Berkowitz Development Group announced the signing of a new long-term lease with PetSmart for 14,252 sq. ft. at Dadeland Station, a 330,000-sq.-ft. shopping center located at 8312 S Dixie Highway in Miami.

The new PetSmart store, which will include an on-site, full-service Banfield Pet Hospital, is slated to open during fourth quarter 2014.

Current tenants include Target, Michael’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, The Sport’s Authority and Best Buy.

Toronto -- Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed retail leasing agent for 100 Bloor Street West, a major shopping mecca in Toronto. Currently occupied by Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma, the flagship retail space represents the largest block of available space on Bloor Street in the past 20 years.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. reported Wednesday that its net income in the second quarter declined 20% to $81.88 million, from $102.53 million in the prior year.  

Its results included $101 million of pre-tax restructuring and other related charges primarily associated with its closure of 80 stores, along with its plan to close approximately 40 stores in North America during the second half. (Staples had previously announced the planned closings.)

Sales were down 2% to $5.22 billion, which topped analysts' estimates.

Dick’s Sporting Goods overcame weakness in its golf and hunting businesses to generate much better than expected second quarter same store sales and made further inroads in e-commerce.

New York -- GameStop Corp. said CEO Paul Raines had unexpected surgery last week for a small cancerous brain tumor.

Raines, who will be undergoing chemotherapy, will restrict his travel during the expected six weeks of treatment, the company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

GameStop said the treatment period would not interfere with Raines' "continued leadership" of the company.