Discount Store

An annual holiday e-retail satisfaction report produced by analytic's firm ForeSee showed considerable improvement at Target this year following a challenging 2011.

Amazon.com, LLBean.com and QVC.com were the top three retailers on ForeSee’s Annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction survey while Target was in the upper one third of companies analyzed.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack in South Portland, Maine.

The approximately 30,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open this spring at Maine Crossing Shopping Center and will be the retailer's first location in the state. It will occupy the former Old Navy space. 

At the back of the new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Reading, Pa., is a self-serve café setup with a sign that proclaims: “The Pot’s Always On. Have a free cup of coffee on us, and if you like, use two sugars … it’s been a pretty good year!”

From the sounds of things, there hasn’t been a bad year since the first Ollie’s opened in Mechanicsburg, Pa., in 1982.

Chicago -- The value and luxury classes of retail will supply the most construction opportunities in 2013, according to a forecast by Englewood Construction. The Lemont, Ill.-based commercial builder also predicted an uptick in restaurant development and a squeeze on middle-market retail.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The TJX Companies has acquired Sierra Trading Post, an off-price Internet retailer based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for approximately $200 million in cash.

The purchase was financed from TJX’s existing cash balances.

New York -- Third quarter same store sales at Bed Bath & Beyond were negatively affected by Hurricane Sandy, but the nation’s leading home good retailer still managed to grow profits.

Bed, Bath & Beyond said net income for the third quarter ended Nov. 24, increased 1.8% to $233 million.

Sales increased 15.3% to $2.7 billion, largely due to two acquisitions earlier in the year, while same store sales advanced 1.7% and were negatively affected by an estimated .9% due to Sandy.

Framingham, Mass. -- The TJX Cos. said Friday it has acquired Sierra Trading Post, an off-price Internet retailer based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for approximately $200 million in cash.

The purchase was financed from TJX’s existing cash balances.

Walmart on Friday wrapped up its 12 Days of Giving campaign with a $70,000 donation of warm clothing to 14 non-profits groups.

One of the organizations selected to receive a donation, the Assistance League of Yuma, serves its community by using proceeds from their thrift store to provide clothing, shoes, hats and more to children in need.　Operation School Bell allows the organization to bring groups of students from rural schools twice a year to get clothing.