Sales & Marketing

Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock cited the recovering U.S. economy as among the reasons why the company plans to focus more on market differentiation and omnichannel retailing.

The company said it will outline these and other strategic priorities in a meeting with investors on Dec. 11 in North Carolina.

Los Angeles - CBRE Group, Inc. has launched a new global brand positioning along with a platform to express the positioning inside and outside the company, Build on Advantage.   “With our new positioning, we have created an organizing principle for the brand that supports our core strategy of producing distinct advantages for all of our stakeholders, and have united our professionals around this aspiration,” said Bob Sulentic, CBRE’s president and CEO.  

Corte Madera, Calif. – Restoraton Hardware Holdings Inc. (RH) beat Wall Street forecasts with net income of $19.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, more than double net income of $9.5 million in the same period a year earlier.  

Ankenny, Iowa – Casey’s General Stores Inc. beat Wall Street expectations with net income of $49.89 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, up 21% from $39.43 million the same period the prior year. Growth of cost of goods sold did not keep pace with growth of sales, aiding the retailer’s profit.  

The paint competition will heat up in March as Lowe’s rolls out HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams.

The HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams product line will feature what both companies describe as “a new and improved interior and exterior paint program.” The line will be available at both Sherwin-Williams' company stores and Lowe's stores nationwide, as well as exclusive line extensions available at Lowe's.

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales showed slow but steady growth during November 2014. According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales, not including automobiles, gasoline stations or restaurants, increased 0.6% seasonally-adjusted from October and 3.2% unadjusted from November 2013.  The increases were in line with NRF’s holiday sales forecast, which anticipates an increase of 4.1% from 2013.   

University of Arkansas alumni Ann and Gene Bordelon have contributed $100,000 to establish the Faculty Innovation Endowed Fund for the benefit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

CINCINNATI — David Dillon, who led Kroger's development of the company's successful Customer 1st Strategy, will retire as chairman of the board on Dec. 31 after 38 years of service.   As expected, the Kroger Board of Directors on Thursday elected Rodney McMullen, Kroger's CEO, to the additional post of chairman, commencing Jan. 1, 2015. McMullen has served on the board of directors since 2003.