Sales & Marketing

Coca-Cola is enhancing its Coca-Cola Freestyle app. Beginning this month, an enhanced “Create Your Own Mix” feature will allow users to choose from more than 100 drink options to create a customized beverage that they can then pour from dispensers at participating outlets by connecting their smartphones to them.

The app is free for Android and iOS devices.

Pittsburgh — The Field & Stream specialty retail concept has announced plans to open a new store in Erie, Pennsylvania, on June 13 at Millcreek Marketplace.

Field & Stream stores carry a wide variety of national outdoor brands including Remington, Sitka, Sage, Simms, Shimano and Yeti and provide a variety of in-store services. The store is not associated with Field & Stream Licenses Co. or Field & Stream Magazine. Dick’s Sporting Goods owns and operates Field & Stream specialty retail stores and FieldandStreamShop.com.

Online retailer Bluefly is looking to leverage Pitney Bowes’ technology and shipping services to help expand the online global reach of their brands to international buyers around the world.

The U.S. apparel and accessories e-tailer is using Pitney Bowes’s global ecommerce software and international shipping services to help simplify international transactions, improve the online shopping experience for consumers and facilitate international growth.
 

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said that its same-store sales rose 7.6% in April, boosted by Easter-driven growth in front-end sales.

The company’s total sales rose 8.8% to $6.49 billion in the month of April, up from $5.96 billion in the same period of last year. Pharmacy sales accounted for 64.5% of total sales for April.

Walgreens posted April sales of $6.49 billion, an increase of 8.8% from $5.96 billion for the same month in fiscal 2013.

Total front-end sales increased 8.8% in April compared with the same month in fiscal 2013, while same-store front-end sales increased 8.2%. Customer traffic in comparable stores increased 2.6% while basket size increased 5.6%.

San Francisco -- Intel Corp. said it has hired senior Staples executive Steven Fund to oversee its global marketing, effective June 2. He will be responsible for marketing strategy, communications, social media and advertising duties.

"As our industry and our business is changing, we need to change the way we develop, build, and market our products, and Steve is going to be a key asset for us as we move forward," CEO Brian Krzanich said in a statement on Monday.

The search is under way for a new CEO at Target following the revelation Monday morning that Gregg Steinhafel was no longer chairman president and CEO effective immediately.

On an interim basis, Target CFO John Mulligan will serve as president and CEO and current board member Roxanne S. Austin will serve as non-executive board chair. To advise the board on its search for a new CEO the firm of Korn Ferry was retained.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. said on Monday that it has agreed to buy PNI Digital Media, Canadian company whose software platform enables retailers to sell such personalized products as photo books, calendars, business cards, documents, wedding invitations, and stationery. The cash transaction is valued at approximately C$73.9 million ($67.5 million).

PNI’s software powers both online and in-store platforms. Its retail clients include Costco and Walmart Canada.