Consumer Electronics

New York City -- Best Buy is studying a variety of devices for its in-store employees to use, including the Galaxy Tab from Samsung, the original iPad and Motorola Mobility’s Xoom, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“While we plan in the future to supply each store a limited number of handheld devices to use as sales tools when assisting the consumer, we have not many any final decision at this time,” a Best Buy representative said, according to the report.

PITTSBURGH -- Dick’s Sporting Goods on Tuesday showed why it is the nation’s leading sporting goods retailer by producing record profits and a 9.4% same-store sales increase that extended to six its string of consecutive quarterly comp gains.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg Tuesday announced the grand opening of a new location at the Chapel Hill Mall, Akron, Ohio, on March 10.

The new store will replace Hhgregg’s older location in Akron, Ohio.

“The store’s new location and design will provide shoppers in the Akron area with a modern, convenient shopping experience,” said Jeff Pearson, VP marketing, Hhgregg. “We hope that shoppers will come into the store to see the new layout and take advantage of grand opening specials.”

It’s hard to keep up with Manhattan’s fast-changing retail scene. But no one does it better than Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, retail leasing and sales division, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Here are new and upcoming stores that Consolo, often referred to as the “Queen of Retail,” expects to be “fashionably” fabulous this year (with all comments by the Queen of Retail herself):

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's is adding Dacor to its appliance mix in select Lowe's stores and offering Dacor for special order from the rest.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Dacor makes luxury kitchen appliances. Two of the standout products offered through Lowe's are the Renaissance 36-in. Gas Cooktop and the Renaissance 30-in. Single Wall Oven. 

CHICAGO -- KitchenAid announced that it is introducing a new collection of premium hand blenders at the 2011 Home and Housewares show. The line is scheduled to be available in the fall and will include 2-, 3- and 5-speed models carrying suggested manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.

Get used to that headline. Increased sales of food during the coming year are expected to contribute 1.5% to Target’s same-store sales growth as the company continues it aggressive PFresh remodeling program.

Same-store sales in February advanced 1.8%, and the strongest performance came in the grocery category, where comps increased in the low teens while health care, beauty and other household essentials experienced gains in the mid-to-upper single-digit range. Also showing strength was the apparel category where comps increased in the low-to-mid single-digit range.