Discount Store

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Kmart is offering a no-money-down layaway program to members of the Shop Your Way loyalty program for the holiday season, starting Sept. 4. Kmart's layaway program includes both online and in-store contracts for coveted items across dozens of merchandise categories, including apparel, home, toys and electronics.

Kmart is also running a new ad for the program both on TV and YouTube.

Just two days after reporting second-quarter results, Fred's posted August results. Improved sales and traffic in the month were driven, according to CEO Bruce A. Efird, by initiatives that the company implemented for the first time in August.

Total sales for the month increased 6% to $147.6 million from $139.4 million in August 2013. Comparable store sales for the month increased 2.3% compared with flat store sales in the same period last year.

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. and L Brands Inc. were among the retailers that posted stronger-than-expected sales in August, fueled in many cases by back-to-school promotions.

Costco led the pack, reporting a 7% gain in August total same-store sales, ahead of views for a 4.9% gain. U.S. same-store sales, excluding the negative impacts from gasoline price deflation and foreign exchange, rose 7% as well. Top-performing categories at Costco included housewares, small appliances, apparel, fresh foods and food sundries.

A strong performance at Stein Mart’s Texas locations in August helped to offset sales at the retailer’s more challenged Gulf state locations.

Total sales for month were $86.5 million, a 3.8% increase over total sales of $83.3 million for August last year. Comparable store sales for the month increased 2.5% from comparable store sales for August last year.

Commack, N.Y. -- Stein Mart is set to join the tenant mix at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack, New York, leasing 30,800 sq. ft., according to Levin Management, exclusive leasing and managing agent for the property. 

Stein Mart is moving into the space formerly occupied by MJM Designer Shoes, which is relocating to a new 12,000-sq.-ft. space within the 221,000-sq.-ft. shopping center.

New York – Shoppers spent $50.17 billion online during the 2014 back-to-school shopping season, which represents a 16% gain from $43.26 billion in the year-ago period, according to eMarketer. Online commerce during the months of July and August — the main months for back-to-school shopping — accounted for approximately one-sixth of retail ecommerce sales for the year, according to eMarketer estimates, as well as 70.5% of retail ecommerce sales in third quarter 2014.

For the third year in a row, leading U.S. no-contract cell phone service provider Straight Talk Wireless will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish for every demonstration given at more than 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide on Saturdays in September as part of the “Give A Minute, Help Make-A-Wish” program.