Discount Store

The most recent Leading National Advertisers annual report from Advertising Age shows Target posted the biggest increased in ad spending in 2010 among conventional retailers. The total amount the company spent increased 12% to $1.508 billion compared with $1.246 billion the prior year. That put the company 18th on the Ad Age list of the nation’s 100 largest advertisers. Only two retailers spent more than Target.

SAN MATEO, Calif. — DemandTec announced that Dollar General will use DemandTec's markdown optimization, everyday price optimization, and everyday price management software services.  According to DemandTec, these three services are designed to enable retailers to optimize and strategically manage pricing for the entire store, including new items, regular retails, promoted items, and clearance items.  

New York City -- Kmart stores is laying off 700 employees in its appliance departments.

The chain, a division of Sears Holdings Corp., is changing the way it sells appliances, allowing customers to check out appliances at any register rather than going to a dedicated register. Instead of having dedicated appliance-only associates, all Kmart staffers are being trained to answer questions about appliances.

There will also be a 1-800 number customers can call for help.

Brandon, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased restaurant space in Brandon, Fla., at Bloomingdale Square to Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Chipotle has leased 2,650 sq. ft., bringing the center to 96% leased. The tenant is slated to open for business in fall 2011.

The 267,736-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a Walmart, Bealls and Publix Super Market alongside national retailers such as Dollar Tree, Hallmark, RadioShack and Bank of America.
 

It was the biggest story in the retail world last week when JCPenney announced it had hired Ron Johnson as its new CEO with the incoming executive vowing to transform the way America shops by reinventing the department store. Such statements normally elicit a yawn because they are so common, but Johnson is the former SVP retail at Apple and spent the past 11 years overseeing the development and growth of the company’s wildly successful and widely heralded retail operation.

NEW YORK— Winn-Dixie Stores has filed suit against Dolgencorp, the parent company of Dollar General. The grocer confirmed that the suit was filed because Dolgencorp “knowingly violates legal, noncompete provisions of Winn-Dixie leases in shopping centers in which both businesses operate,” Winn-Dixie told the Jacksonville Business Journal in an email.