Sales & Marketing

Worse than expected second quarter sales results at Dick’s Sporting Goods sparked new consumer spending concerns and prompted the company to lower its full year profit forecast.

Dicks said sales for the quarter ended August 3, increased 6.6% to $1.5 billion, however same store sales fell 0.4%, versus a planned 2% to 3% increase, when adjusted for a 53rd week in 2012. Profits for the period totaled $84.2 million, or 67 cents a share, compared to $53.7 million, or 43 cents a share.

With the addition of an Android app, mobile workforce leader Gigwalk expects its on-demand workforce to soon exceed 600,000.

The two-year-old San Francisco-based technology company already has 325,000 workers, known as Gigwalkers, using its app on iPhones to perform a variety of mobile research and store audit functions. The addition of an app for Android phones is expected to more than double the number of Gigwalkers because Android phones are more prevalent in the market.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Pepsi is teaming up with MTV to support a performance by pop star Katy Perry at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, from an undisclosed location in Brooklyn Aug. 25. 

Pepsi will also hold a tweet-to-unlock and social voting program where fans can access information and audio samples of two songs from Perry's upcoming album, Prism, available Oct. 22. Participants who tweet #KATYNOW will unlock clues around two of the album's tracks, including the song titles and select lyrics. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy said it earned $266 million in the second quarter, compared with a profit of $12 million in the year-ago period, amid cost cuts. Its results beat Wall Street expectations.

Revenue for the quarter, ended Aug. 3, edged down to $9.3 billion, from $9.34 billion last year. Analysts expected $9.13 billion. Same-store sales fell 0.6%, including a 0.4% decline domestically. Online sales rose 10.5%.

The Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Association is turning 100. To mark the centennial, Bart Gobeil, chief operating officer in Georgia, will present a commendation to the association on behalf of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, recognizing the impact that CCBA has made in supporting the local communities in which its members operate.

Park City Group, a leading consumer goods supply chain technology designed to increase sales and reduce out-of-stocks, has added private-label marketing veteran William Wolfe to its leadership team.  

Wolfe, who has more than 30 years of experience, will serve as a senior adviser, responsible for developing business solutions, consulting and expanding sales efforts in the retail channel.

Los Angeles -- A new survey by PriceGrabber confirms that consumers are determined to think frugally when shopping for back-to-school this year, with 57% of respondents saying they will attempt to buy more items that are "on sale," while 42% say they will comparison shop for the best price. 

PHILADELPHIA — A favorable customer response to product offerings at Urban Outfitters contributed to the retailer’s net income of $76 million for the three months ended July 31.

Total company net sales for the second quarter increased 12% to a record $759 million. Same-store sales, including the company’s direct-to-consumer channel, increased 9%.

Comparable retail segment net sales increased 38% at Free People, 9% at Anthropologie and 5% at Urban Outfitters. Wholesale segment net sales rose 17%.