Sales & Marketing

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin Brands said Friday it has launched its first-ever mobile app for payment and gifting purposes.

The app for iPhone, iPod touch or Android smartphone will allow users to pay food, beverages, and merchandise at Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the U.S. by scanning a device in-store or at the drive-thru.

Additionally, an mGift feature will enable consumers to send virtual gift cards three ways – text, email, and Facebook Connect.

Merchant Customer Exchange is the name of a new mobile payments group in which Walmart and other leading retailers are involved.

Expectations are high that mobile payments represent the future of commerce and group of leading retailers this week formed a new organization to offer an alternative way to pay.

The group is called the Merchant Customer Exchange and currently consists of 14 retailers. Plans call for development of a payment application available for smartphones that offers secure technology to process transaction.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group said Friday that second-quarter profit dropped to $1.2 million, from $6.6 million in the year-ago period. Total sales were flat at $100.5 million, and same-store sales edged up 2%.

However, continuing strength from the DestinationXL stores vs. the Casual Male XL locations is prompting the company to focus on growing the former.

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle reported Thursday that net income for the period ended July 28 dipped 2% to $23.2 million, compared with $23.6 million in the year-ago period, but matching forecasts.
 
Net sales rose 2% to $215.5 million, just missing Wall Street’s expected $215.9 million in revenue. Same-store sales dipped 0.8%.

Same-stores sales increased 4.2%, total sales increased 4.6% to $12.5 billion and operating profits advanced 10.1% to $536 million.

Impressive is how Sam’s Club president and CEO Rosalind Brewer characterized the warehouse club operator’s performance during the second quarter.

San Francisco -- A survey released Thursday by Placecast found that U.S. parents are more likely to use their mobile phones for shopping-related activities compared to those without children under 18 years old in their household.

In fact, the Alert Shopper III poll, which was commissioned by Placecast and conducted by Harris Interactive, showed that parents were more active than non-parents across all aspects of digital commerce (mobile and online) - from making purchases via mobile phones to receiving text and email alerts, and taking action on them.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us opened its first stores in Beijing last weekend, marking its continued expansion across China.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 28 jumped 23% to $182 million, from $148.3 million in the year-ago period. Results met Wall Street expectations, but the company issued profit predictions for the current quarter and full year that were below average forecasts. Same-store sales rose 7% in the quarter.