Retail

By John Lytle, [email protected] and Julien Escribe, [email protected]

PHOENIX — PetSmart’s total sales for the quarter ended Aug. were $1.7 billion, up 5.3% from $1.6 billion for the prior-year period, showing that people are still spending money on their pets despite lingering economic challenges and cautious shopping behavior trends evident in other sectors. 

Comparable-store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, grew 3.4%, benefitting from comparable transactions growth of 1%. Services sales, which are included in total sales, grew 7.3% to $205 million.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus has launched its online Beauty Product Specialist Program offering online customers the personalized counter experience they would receive in a Neiman Marcus store.

"Through this program our customers can expect to receive guidance on skincare regimes, makeup application, and choosing a personal scent," said Kelly St. John, Neiman Marcus Direct VP, divisional merchandise manager, beauty.

Target produced solid profits on tepid second quarter sales growth but joined the growing list of retailers to express reservations about the health of the consumer during the back half of the year.

Target said its U.S. stores produced a 1.2% same store sales increase during the second quarter ended August 3, and total sales increased 2.4% to $16.8 billion from $16.5 billion during second quarter last year. Operating profits grew at a meager 0.4% rate to $1.33 billion from $1.32 billion.

New York -- Fairway Group Holdings Corp., parent company of Fairway Market, is the first supermarket in New York City to install technology to help customers who are deaf place their shopping orders.

The company said it has installed a hearing loop at its Broadway store's deli counter which works with an individual's telecoil-equipped hearing instrument or cochlear implant.

New York -- CBL & Associates Properties has announced the appointment of A. Larry Chapman to its board of directors.

Chapman is a retired 37-year veteran of Wells Fargo. He most recently served as group head of the bank’s commercial real estate lending business, responsible for the group’s 75 nationally located real estate loan production offices and 1,500 full time employees.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s second-quarter net income rose 26%, boosted by strong demand for its product.

For the period ended Aug. 2, Lowe’s earned $941 million, up from $747 million a year ago.

“Home improvement demand was strong during the quarter,” said Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock. “We drove a healthy balance of ticket and transaction growth, and delivered solid performance across all product categories.”

Greenwood Village, Colo. — Red Robin Gourmet Burgers will open its first location in Peoria, Ill., on Sept. 2. To help celebrate the grand opening, Red Robin will donate the new restaurant’s sales of Freckled Lemonade for the first week of operations to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer.