Mass Merchant

Denver – An estimated 28% of consumers plan to do most of their holiday shopping at mass retailers, compared to 26% who will frequent online retailers. According to an ongoing shopper behavior study conducted by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research, free shipping continues to be the most popular offer for holiday shoppers, with 58% of shoppers reporting they expect to take advantage of it this holiday season.   

NEW YORK - Best Buy on Thursday reported unexpectedly strong and better-than-expected profit and sales for the third quarter, gaining new momentum as it heads into the holiday shopping season.  It was the first time since the third quarter of last year that Best Buy reported positive comparable store sales.

Ross Stores didn’t let a surprisingly strong third quarter comp increase go to its head and maintained a cautious view of consumer spending.

Sales at the company increased 8% to nearly $2.6 billion and same store sales increased 4%. Net income increased to $193 million, or 93 cents a share, from $172 million, or 80 cents a share.

Never underestimate the creativity of unscrupulous customers is the key takeaway for all retailers following Walmart’s effort to implement a liberal price match policy this week.

Green Bay, Wisconsin - H.J. Martin announced it has completed a major project for national retailer Burlington Coat Factory.  The project primarily consisted of fixture installations in 49 stores across the continental United States as part of a remodeling of Burlington’s home and accessories departments.  

It took a heightened level of promotional activity to drive marginally better than expected third quarter same store sales growth at Target’s U.S. stores while losses in Canada were less severe than the prior year.

New York — Most Americans won’t shop on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday this year. According to a new Bankrate.com survey of 1,000 consumers, only 28% of Americans plan to shop in a store on Black Friday.   

Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Dollar General Corporation isn’t giving up. The deep discounter on Wednesday  affirmed its commitment to the acquisition of rival Family Dollar Stores. Dollar General’s comments followed the news that Family Dollar has delayed its shareholder vote on its $8.5 billion deal to be bought by Dollar Tree Inc. from Dec. 11 to Dec. 23.