eCommerce

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold's U.S. subsidiary saw net sales jump 2.8% to $7.8 billion during first quarter 2012, the company said Wednesday.

ATLANTA — Ahead of its investor and analyst conference, Home Depot has provided an update on its strategic priorities and long-term financial targets.

Home Depot's strategic goals include creating a stronger connection with customers and simplifying its business, improving merchandise assortment and value, improving shareholder value,and developing a competitive platform across all commerce channels.

NEW YORK — Kenneth Cole, chairman and chief creative officer of Kenneth Cole Productions will now be the holder of approximately 46% of the company's common stock and will have 89% of the voting power. The deal was made possible through an agreement between Kenneth Cole Productions and Cole's controlling entity KCP Holdco.

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Target’s plan to achieve $6 billion in Canadian sales by 2017 is doable, according to Bernstein Research analyst Colin McGranahan, who notes the company’s goal is dependent on achieving sales productivity levels higher than the United States.

News reports this week speculated Denver might be getting a new CityTarget store. Get used to seeing similar speculation in other major markets as the company seeks to tap a new growth frontier.

Washington, D.C. -- The average person will spend $117.14 on dad’s gifts this year, up 10% from $106.49 last year, closing the gap between its biggest competitor: Mother’s Day (consumers planned to spend an average of $152 on the holiday), according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Father’s Day spending survey, conducted by BIGinsight. Total spending for Father’s Day is expected to reach $12.7 billion.

New York -- Claire’s Stores Inc. has named James D. Fielding, former president of Disney Stores Worldwide, as CEO, effective June 18, 2012. Fielding, who resigned from Disney on Monday, will also join Claire’s board of directors.

“I look forward to capitalizing on the many growth initiatives available to the company, including new stores, development of the Icing concept, continued international expansion in markets such as Mexico, India and China, and optimization of e-commerce,” Fielding said in a statement.

Toronto -- Loft, a division of Ann Inc. — formerly known as Ann Taylor — will open its first Canadian location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario, in late 2012.

"Canada represents a natural step as we move to expand internationally, and we are excited to open our first store outside the U.S. in such a vibrant city like Toronto," said Gary Muto, brand president.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot on Wednesday expanded its share buyback plan for the year by $500 million and reaffirmed its full-year outlook.

The retailer said it now expects to buy back $4 billion of its shares and that the increase in its share repurchase plan would not have a material impact to earnings per share for 2012.