Sales & Marketing

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.

Off price retailer Ross Stores achieved record fourth quarter sales and earnings and expects to deliver more of the same in 2013 thanks to an unwavering commitment to offering great bargains.

Sales for the 14 week fourth quarter ended February 2, increased 15% to $2.76 billion when compared to the prior year’s 13 week fourth quarter. Same store sales advanced 5% on top of a prior year gain of 7%. Earnings per share for the period increased to $1.07 from 85 cents last year and net income grew to $236.6 million from $192 million.

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.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pacific Sunwear of California announced that net sales from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 ended Feb. 2, were $228 million versus net sales from continuing operations of $218.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 ended Jan. 28, 2012.

Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 1%.  

The company ended fiscal 2012 with 644 stores, compared with 733 as of the end of fiscal 2011. The company closed 78 stores in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

New York -- Macy’s announced that it will expand its online order fulfillment center in Goodyear, Ariz., to accommodate continued sales growth as part of the company’s omni-channel strategy. The company is expected to invest more than $35 million in capital in the project.

NEW YORK — According to Capital Business Credit's quarterly Global Retail Manufacturers and Importers Survey, 50% of importers of retail goods are experiencing an increase in orders this spring as compared to last year, while 50% are experiencing a decrease or no change from the previous year. Of those surveyed who are having a stronger spring, the majority are experiencing growth between three and 10%.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is expanding its customer loyalty program to the supermarket channel and its Teavana stores as it looks to double membership from 4.5 million members at the end of October 2012 to approximately nine million members by the end of fiscal 2013.

Starbucks made the announcement at the company’s annual shareholders on Wednesday in Seattle. Also at the meeting, Starbucks investors rejected a shareholder proposal to prohibit the chain from making political contributions or forming a political action committee.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot was named to the 2012 list of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This marks the eleventh year that Office Depot has been included on the selective list.