Mass Merchant

The willingness of discount-store shoppers to pay a premium for products with a celebrity connection will be put to the test next week when the new line of William Rast apparel hits Target stores. The line includes premium denim, leather and outerwear items with prices beginning at $16.99 and extending all the way to the department store territory of $199.99. The limited duration merchandising initiative is due to hit stores on Dec.19 and runs through Jan. 22.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Cost Plus confirmed that it is conducting a merchandising test with Bed Bath & Beyond involving its consumables products in three Bed Bath & Beyond stores located in San Diego, California; Totowa, New Jersey and Elmsford, New York. 

For the third quarter the company reported a same-store sales increased 8.8%. Net loss for the quarter was $8.3 million, a $13.7 million improvement.

NEW YORK - Pop music phenomenon Justin Bieber has launched a new line of headphones called "Justbeats by Dr. Dre" exclusively at Best Buy stores in the United States and on BestBuy.com. According to Best Buy the headphones come in Bieber's favorite purple color and are priced at SRP $199.95 for the Justbeats by Dr. Dre Solo Headphone and SRP $119.95 for the iBeats by Dr. Dre Justbeats Edition. Both versions feature ControlTalk, a technology which lets users answer a phone call while listening to music.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - TJX Companies announced that it will consolidate its A.J. Wright division by converting 91 A.J. Wright stores into T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods stores and by closing the remaining 71 stores, A.J. Wright’s two distribution centers and its home office. This action is expected to improve the overall profitability of the company, and will allow TJX to focus its managerial and financial resources on its larger, more profitable businesses, all of which have major growth potential, as well as to serve the A.J.

MINNEAPOLIS - Target announced its commitment to sustainability and outlined goals it hopes to achieve over the next five years. Target's commitments to environmental sustainability, along with more on Target's sustainability efforts, are available at hereforgood.target.com/environment, the company reported.