Sales & Marketing

Camp Hill, Pa. – Rite Aid’s positive momentum continued in March, with the drugstore chain reporting a 4.3% increase in March overall same-store sales.

Total drugstore sales for the four-week period increased 4.1% to $2.026 billion, compared to $1.947 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales accounted for 69.9% of sales.
 

Hingham, Mass. – Talbots Inc. has signed an extension to a long-term agreement to continue receiving private label credit card services from Alliance Data Systems Corp. Talbots operates nearly 500 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Despite bad publicity from a “60 Minutes” report alleging carcinogens in some of the hardwood it sells, Lumber Liquidators increased sales in the first quarter of 2015.

New York -- Investment firm TowerBrook Capital Partners is acquiring women’s apparel retailer J. Jill, which operates some 250 stores nationwide. TowerBrook is buying the company from Investment firm Arcapita and private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.  

In a statement, J. Jill CEO Paula Bennett noted that the retailer has just completed its best sales year in history and 12 quarters of consecutive growth.

Oak Brook, Ill. - McDonald’s USA has decided to give employees a break, in the form of higher pay, paid time off and educational assistance. McDonald’s is raising starting wages at company-owned restaurants in the U.S. one dollar more than the locally-mandated minimum wage, as of July 1.

Rite Aid's pharmacy and front-end divisions helped the retailer post a 4.3% gain in same store sales for March. 

Big Lots is giving consumers a new budget-friendly option when it comes to baby supplies.

Big Lots has launched a new line called b*loved, which the company says gives customers premium brand baby products with everything moms and dads need to keep babies clean, comfortable and dry, at an affordable price.

Customers looking for a great value on products ranging from diapers and wipes to baby wash and shampoo can shop Big Lots first with b*loved.

Liquidation leaders in merger deal Retailers looking to realize maximum value when they close stores or liquidated inventory have a new ally following the merger of two industry leaders.

Gordon Brothers Group and AccuVal-LiquiTec announced that Gordon Brothers Group’s Valuation & Advisory Services Division and AccuVal-LiquiTec have entered into a merger to form Gordon Brothers-AccuVal.

The newly formed group will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Gordon Brothers Group, already one the world’s leading disposition and appraisal firms.