Sales & Marketing

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores Inc. said Thursday its fourth-quarter net income rose 23%, in line with analysts’ projections. The off-price retailer also announced that beginning with the second quarter of fiscal 2013 it will no longer report monthly sales. Instead, quarterly same-store store sales results will be provided with regularly scheduled earnings releases.
 

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation has released the following statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in support of the Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act:

“With the average international tourist spending well over $4,000 shopping in our stores, staying at our hotels, and eating at our restaurants, efforts aimed at encouraging more foreign travel is a simple way to spur economic growth and job creation. This is especially true in the retail industry.

Samsung Electronics America announced that its 2013 TVs will begin shipping this month in the United States, beginning with the LED 8000-series and the Plasma 8500-series.

Boston -- City Sports announced that it will open its 22nd retail location in New York City, on March 26. It will be City Sports' third location in New York City.

The new store, in the city’s financial district, will be the company’s largest retail location to date, with nearly 11,000 sq. ft. of selling space devoted to athletic apparel, footwear and equipment.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be opening a third retail location in New York City," said City Sports president and CEO Edward Albertian.

CHICAGO — Claire's Stores reported net sales of $493.4 million for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, an increase of $58.5 million, or 13.4% compared with the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter. 

During fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, the company entered two new countries, opening three stores in China and two stores in Italy.

Consolidated same-store sales increased 5.4% for the quarter, with North America same-store sales increasing 5.9%, and Europe same-store sales increasing 4.4%.  

Dayton, Ohio -- Walmart holds on to the top spot in the annual ranking of the 50 most valuable U.S. retail brands from branding consultancy firm Interbrand. The discounter’s brand value is put at $141 billion (up 1% from the 2012 report.). By comparison, the second-highest ranked U.S. brand, Target Corp., has a value of $25 billion. The Home Depot is solid at number three, with a brand value of nearly $23 billion.

Wilmington, Del. -- DuPont Refrigerants urges HVACR industry members to be aware of potential counterfeit and illegally imported refrigerant products, with particular attention to R-22 and R-438A. R-438A is a patented product from DuPont, sold as DuPont ISCEON® MO99 refrigerant.

WASHINGTON — Walgreens this week opened the doors to its latest flagship location in the nation's capital, bringing to District of Columbia residents and commuters the kind of retail pharmacy theater already familiar with citizens of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.