Sales & Marketing

Walgreens had September sales of $6.5 billion, an increase of 9.4% as compared to the same month in fiscal 2014.
 
Total front-end sales increased 2.2% in September compared with the same month in fiscal 2014, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.7%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.7% while basket size increased 4.4%.
 

Denver – In the past two years, the number of shoppers using mobile devices to make purchases has increased by 10 percentage points to 35% in 2014 from 25% in 2012. According to a new study by The Integer Group, increased purchasing by Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and the 15–34 and 35–49 age groups were largely responsible for this increase.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens’ same-store stores increased 7.9% in September. Total sales increased 9.4%, to $6.5 billion compared to the same month in fiscal 2014, the company reported Friday.

Comparable store front-end sales rose 1.7%, while comparable store pharmacy sales rose 11.3%.

Walgreens opened nine stores during September, including four relocations, and closed four.

Leadership changes continue at struggling specialty retailer Wet Seal. Just one month after appointing Edmond Thomas as CEO, following John D. Goodman’s departure, CFO Steve Benrubi has resigned. He will remain with the company through December 1 to assist with the transition.

The company said it plans to search for a new CFO, but offered no further details.

New York -- The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether a Muslim woman who was denied a job at an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. store because she wears a head scarf was required to specifically request a religious accommodation at the time of her job interview.

The court agreed to hear an appeal filed in the case by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that sued the retailer on behalf of Samantha Elauf, who was denied a sales job at an Abercrombie Kids store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, back in 2008.

San Francisco - Salesforce.com has delivered Desk.com for Retail, with features including new pay-as-you-go pricing, reporting tools and e-commerce integrations to transform how retailers deliver a personalized service experience to every customer. The new Desk.com for Retail includes snapshot reports of cases coming in from distributors and manufacturers, as well as one-click integration to retail platforms such as Big Commerce and Shopify.

Irving, Texas – The Michaels Companies Inc. is launching its annual “Trick Your Pumpkin” Instagram contest Saturday, Oct. 4. Every Friday Oct. 10 - 31, Michaels will award a $250 Michaels gift card and gift basket to a randomly selected customer who creates a pumpkin craft.

Global information company NPD Group made a key organizational change to its growing home and office supplies practice.

The information provider said Lora Morsovillo, formerly president of the NPD’s office supplies practice, would assume the role of president of the home practice.  Morsovillo will continue to report to Perry James, who continues to lead the firm’s  hardlines sector, including home, automotive, toys, and office supplies.  James also takes over direct management of office supplies from Morsovillo.