Retail

INDIANAPOLIS — Frigidaire and Hhgregg are encouraging customers to get more organized through a special sweepstakes offering daily prizes and Frigidaire’s french door refrigerators through April 27.

Throughout the sweepstakes a $100 gift card will be awarded daily. Frigidaire french door refrigerators in 28 cu. ft. and 27 cu. ft. sizes will be awarded to the grand prize and first and second prize winners, respectively.

New York -- A report by the Wall Street Journal on Friday said that hedge fund Barington Capital Group is pressing Jones Group Inc. to slim down by divesting parts of its portfolio.

Citing an unidentified source, WSJ said that Barington – in a meeting earlier this month – urged Jones to hire financial advisers to analyze many of the company’s 35-plus to pare down the portfolio and focus on its core and emerging brands.

NEW YORK — U.S. retail sales fell 0.4% in March, the biggest decrease in nine months, amid a slowdown in hiring and higher taxes. Excluding sales of autos, gas and building materials, core sales dropped 0.2% in March, following a 0.3% increase in January.

NEW YORK — Banana Republic has teamed up with designer Issa London to launch the Banana Republic Issa London Collection – a limited-edition capsule inspired by the safari roots of Banana Republic's heritage and the spirit of an exotic journey. The capsule collection launches exclusively at select Banana Republic retail locations worldwide and online Aug. 6.

Walmart marketing executives shared new insights on the company’s price comparison advertising campaign and other outreach efforts this week during a presentation at the 12th annual Shopper Marketing Summit.

Clint McClain, senior director of marketing communications platforms, and Ken Mantel, senior director of marketing, shared the stage during a presentation that shed light on how to work with Walmart on select marketing initiatives in a media landscape that is being rapidly transformed by digital alternatives.

Los Angeles -- Guess, Inc. has appointed Hillary Super as SVP, general merchandise manager for Guess, reporting to Paul Marciano, co-founder and CEO of Guess.

In this role, Hillary will be responsible for product categories for Guess as the lead merchant for the company, and she will also be a key member of the Guess senior management team. Previously, Hillary spent six years in senior merchant roles at American Eagle and four years at Gap where she oversaw multiple brands and product categories.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores will close its Younkers Furniture Gallery in the Lakeshore Marketplace in Muskegon, Mich., in June. The closing will affect approximately 20 associates at the location.

The Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Muskegon Furniture Gallery store when it acquired Elder-Beerman in 2003. Bon-Ton does not expect the furniture gallery’s close to affect operations at the Younkers department store located in The Lakes Mall.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy will offer up to 1 million free smartphones to eligible customers, in an effort to encourage shoppers to use its mobile app.  

Consumers who want a new smartphone or who are eligible for a device upgrade with their current mobile service provider can visit the site and choose from a variety of Android smartphones. They can then sign up for a new contract or upgrade to a two-year contract, and the phone will be shipped directly to them.