Department Store

New York City -- Amazon.com, Kohl's Department Stores and Costco Wholesale ranked tops in customer service. according to a new research report published by market researcher Temkin Group.

Retailers took 15 of the top 20 spots in the 2011 Temkin Experience Ratings (www.temkinratings.com), which based its findings on a survey of 6,000 U.S. consumers who had recent interactions with 143 large U.S. companies in a dozen industries.

It’s all about the ladies this week at Target as the retailer’s promotional emphasis shifted to spring-time seasonal apparel and related accessories and categories. A quartet of youthful and exuberant models wearing Mossimo and Merona brand dresses were featured on the cover of the weekly ad at the sale price of $17.99. A slightly younger demographic is targeted on the page two and three spread with two groups of three girls sporting Xhilaration and Mossimo Supply Co. styles for $17.99.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group said that Jay S. Levine has been appointed senior VP, chief accounting officer and corporate controller of Ascena Retail Group with responsibilities for SEC reporting, financial planning and analysis, internal controls and corporate taxes.

Ascena operates 2,478 stores under its, Dressbarn, Maurices and Justice banners.

The 2011 edition of Interbrand’s Best Retail Brands report again lists Target in the second position with a value of $23.3 billion in between number-one-ranked Walmart at $142 billion and third-ranked Home Depot at $20.3 billion.

New York City -- Macy’s is undertaking a multi-million dollar remodel of its store in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The eight-floor, 227,000-sq.-ft. department store was last renovated in 1996, when it operated as Marshall Field’s. It became Macy’s in 2006.

The new décor will include a white ceramic floor, brighter lights and silver accents, the report said. The store’s first three levels will receive the lion’s share of the updates.

NEW YORK -- Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, Best Buy and CVS took top honors in Interbrand’s annual ranking of the 50 most valuable U.S. retail brands. The U.S. brands are valued in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum, the retail experience group within Interbrand.

New York City -- Hennes & Mauritz AB Thursday reported that its net profit in the first quarter fell 30% from a year earlier on “significantly higher” cotton prices, higher transportation costs and a stronger Swedish krona. The chain said profit in the quarter ended Feb. 28 fell to 2.62 billion Swedish kronor ($414 million).

When Walmart executives speak about prices, inflation or the nation’s economic condition their comments create quite a stir, and that’s what we saw again this week when Bill Simon spoke to USA Today.