Mass Merchant

New York -- Only 26% of parents say they are shopping wherever the best back-to-school promotions are offered, according to a study by WSL/Strategic Retail. The finding was revealed as part of the company’s Back-to-School 2012 How America Shops trend report, which tracked what stores and categories parents are shopping.

Seattle -- Bartell Drugs is moving its headquarters, the Seattle-based retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Bartell's, which operates 58 stores in and around Washington State’s largest city, said it would move its headquarters to the West Seattle Corporate Center in October. Its present headquarters is in Georgetown, a neighborhood south of downtown Seattle. The new, 32,000-sq.-ft. headquarters was built in 1991 as the headquarters for Services Group of America.

SEATTLE — Zoomingo, the shopping discovery app that helps consumers find the best deals in their local stores and online, has launched a new "back to school" section that lets parents and young adults find the best deals for their back to school essentials, whether they are on the go from their smartphone or from the convenience of their home computer. The new back to school section is available both in English as well as in Spanish through a newly released Spanish language version of Zoomingo's Android application.

Bharti Walmart, Walmart's joint venture in India, has reportedly ended plans to start online operations and has fired Dippankar Halder, who was in charge of the division.

However, a spokeswoman for the company, according to The Economic Times, denied the reports and said that Bharti Walmart will continue to serve its members multiple ways, including through the e-commerce channel.

ATLANTA — Ignacio Perez Lizaur, who lead Walmart's expansion into Latin America as director general Sam's Club Mexico in 1991, has joined Newell Rubbermaid's board of directors.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Sales and earnings were disappointing at Kohl's, but the retailer remains optimistic heading into the fall.

The retailer reported second quarter net income of $240 million, or $1 per diluted share, compared with $299 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, a year ago. Net sales were $4.2 billion, a decrease of 1% for the quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter decreased 2.7%.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Sam's Club has extended its relationship with GE Capital Retail Bank, a consumer lending unit of General Electric Company. GE Capital Retail Bank will continue providing the Sam’s Club credit card program to their Advantage and Business Members. GE Capital’s Retail Finance business, the operating entity that provides financial solutions to retailers to help grow their customer sales, will continue to manage the Sam’s Club relationship and service the account.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is responding to changing trends affecting the "back-to-school" experience with a number initiatives designed to meet the needs of its consumers.

According to Kmart, more public schools are requiring uniforms and others are now adopting a year-round school calendar. In response, Kmart has adjusted its approach to back-to-school by increasing the number of stores that sell uniforms and aligning its back-to-school sales periods by region to match that of the local school districts.