Sales & Marketing

Plano, Texas – A senior executive at The J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has accidentally disclosed same-store sales growth to date in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Penney said the executive sent an email to an analyst including the information that same-store sales have increased 6% so far in the quarter, ending in May 2015, with the retailer expecting growth to total 3.5%-4.5% for the full quarter.

Phoenix -- CBRE has announced that LeDonna Spongberg, a retail leasing professional, has joined the company’s Phoenix office as a first VP.

Who hasn’t prematurely hit the send button on an email? However, when it happened to a JCPenney executive who disclosed first quarter same store sales to an analyst, it begs the larger question of why the pair were even having a conversation about sales with two weeks left in the quarter.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced it is donating one percent of every gift card sale to local nonprofits in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

"When a customer buys a gift card this Mother's Day and beyond, we hope they'll feel good knowing that the gift they're giving is a part of Nordstrom helping some great non-profit organizations do amazing things for their communities,” said Jamie Nordstrom, president of stores for Nordstrom.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. has collected 450 million ink and toner cartridges for recycling in the U.S. since 2005, averaging more than 60 million cartridges per year for the past four years. Through the cartridge recycling program, Staples has helped recover and recycle 234 million pounds of plastics and metals, diverting roughly the weight of 8,000 full garbage trucks from landfills.

Alexandria, Va. - A majority of Americans say they are optimistic about the economy and low gas prices are driving the optimism. Overall, survey results released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) shows that 52% of Americans are optimistic about the economy, an eight-point jump from March.

With Earth Day upon the retail industry all sorts of operators are touting accomplishments, including Staples where an impressive milestone demonstrates how a company can do well by doing good.

The company said it has collected more than 450 million ink and toner cartridges for recycling in the U.S. since 2005, averaging more than 60 million cartridges per year for the past four years. Through the cartridge recycling program, Staples has helped recover and recycle 234 million pounds of plastics and metals, diverting roughly the weight of 8,000 full garbage trucks from landfills.

City of Industry, Calif. – 99 Cents Only Stores Inc. plans to open nine new stores in Arizona, California and Texas between April 16 and April 18. On April 16, 99 Cents Only will open new stores in Canoga Park, Glendora and Vallejo, California.

On April 17, 99 Cents Only will open new stores in Chico and Escondido, California and Houston. On Saturday, April 18, 99 Cents Only will open new stores in Mesa, Arizona and Sylmar and Tustin, California.