Loyalty Marketing

Los Angeles -- Westfield announced that its Westfield Style fashion program is launching personal styling services on demand at select Westfield centers in May. 

The focal point of the new offering is the Westfield Style Lounge, a dedicated space in the mall where professional stylists will provide free personalized style consultations for shoppers. Additionally, shoppers can get advice on demand right from their mobile phone via the new Ask A Stylist service. Shoppers e-mail a photo of their look to the on-call stylist for an instant response.

New York -- Edward Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, presented an ambitious plan on Wednesday to improve the company’s performance that includes updating store layouts and signage and investing in its rewards program, Reuters reported.

“We are not here to just survive. We are here to transform,” Lampert told shareholders at the company's annual meeting, according to the report.

Sears is focusing on better inventory management, having the right fashions and being more customer friendly, the report said.

Dublin, Calif. -- Epicor Software Corp. said Tuesday that Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin has selected the Epicor suite of retail solutions to support its growing retail operations.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS/pharmacy said Tuesday it has introduced an updated mobile app that allows shoppers to digitally store their ExtraCare card in their smartphone, eliminating the need to carry an ExtraCare card when shopping.

The CVS mobile app now allows members to scan the barcode on the back of their card or type in their account number manually. After the barcode is captured, customers' smartphones will work just like ExtraCare cards at the register.

Armonk, N.Y. -- A report released Tuesday by IBM found that the U.S. online retail sector grew more than 6% in March 2012. This upswing in March closes a quarter in which online sales were down slightly from the same period in 2011.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp.’s net income surged a better-than-expected 18% in its fiscal second quarter, as its store traffic increased in most parts of the world. The coffee giant also raised its forecast for the year on the results and said it was accelerating its growth.

For the three months ended April 1, the company earned $309.9 million, compared with a profit of $261.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose to $3.2 billion, up from $2.79 billion a year ago. Same-store sales increased 7%.

By Juli Spottiswood, [email protected]

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation said that consumers are expected to stretch their dollars a little further this Mother’s Day to make sure mom has the perfect day.

According to NRF’s 2012 Mother’s Day consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion.