Sales & Marketing

New York -- Golfsmith International will open a two-story, 15,000-sq.-ft. store on Fifth Avenue, near 38th Street, in Manhattan.
   
The store, opening on Friday, June 7, features three state-of-the-art club fitting studios with simulators that enable customers to test drive the latest equipment with the same technology used to fit tour pros. The store also has an indoor putting green and technology bar with GPS units, range finders and a variety of high-tech gadgets.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Wednesday posted third-quarter sales of $18.3 billion, up 3.3%.

Same-store sales were up 1.3%, with front-end comparable store sales up by 0.3% and pharmacy comp sales up 2%. Prescriptions filled were up 7% for the quarter.

Walgreens reported that more than 72 million Walgreens faithful have signed on for the company's Balance Rewards loyalty program through May.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — On the heels of reporting net revenues of $123 million for the first quarter ended May 4 — an increase of 5% from $117.2 million in the first quarter of the year prior — Vera Bradley has announced that CEO Michael C. Ray plans to retire from the company.

Ray informed the company's board of directors that he will remain CEO through the transition period and intends to continue to serve as a director. The board has formed a search committee and retained Spencer Stuart to assist in the search for Ray's successor. 

Portland, Ore. -- Regency Centers Corp. has announced a $6 million redevelopment of Greenway Town Center, a 93,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center in Tigard, Ore., a suburb of Portland. Among the center’s enhancements, Whole Foods Market will open a 37,500-sq.-ft. anchor store in 2014.

The redevelopment will include a new exterior façade with cedar wood accents, upgraded architectural components, parking lot improvements and new site lighting, landscaping and signage.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Gymboree Corporation is looking to leverage the rebounding economy and trends for the rest of 2013, following a dip in its net sales for the first quarter ended May 4. 

The company reported net sales of $293 million for the quarter, a 1.7% decrease from $298 million for the first quarter ended April 28, 2012. Comparable sales for the quarter decreased 5% versus the first quarter of the year prior.

LOS ANGELES — Virtual Piggy, an online service that allows parents to monitor their children's online shopping behavior, has deployed technology enabling youth younger than 18 to safely make donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. continues to expand East with plans to open its stores in the states of New York and Massachusetts.

The hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise retailer will open an 88,000-sq.-ft. store in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in fall 2014, and a similarly sized one in the Boston suburb of Berlin, in spring 2015. The exteriors of both locations will reflect Cabela’s signature log construction, stonework, wood siding, metal roofing and a large glass storefront.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens reported sales of $18.3 billion for the third quarter, up 3.3%. Same-store sales increased 1.3%, with front-end comparable store sales up by 0.3% and pharmacy comp sales up 2%. Prescriptions filled were up 7% for the quarter.

Sales of Walgreens' shares were up $1 to $49.03 in early-morning trading.

Walgreens reported that more than 72 million Walgreens faithful have signed on for the company's Balance Rewards loyalty program through May.