Sales & Marketing

San Francisco -- A federal lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was filed on Wednesday, by disability rights advocates claiming that payment machines are inaccessible to California customers in wheelchairs and on scooters.

Wilmington, N.C. -- Madison Marquette Retail Services, which leases and manages Independence Mall – in Wilmington, N.C. – on behalf of owner Centro Properties Group, said that Gymboree Corp.’s Crazy 8 brand will open a new store at the mall this fall.

The 2,465-sq.-ft. store will join Aeropostale, The Children’s Place, Gymboree and Justice in catering to Independence Mall’s teen, tween and children’s clothing shoppers.
 

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko has hired a long-time retail marketing executive, with extensive experience in the beauty and apparel sectors, to help develop the Shopko brand as it moves forward with the conversion of its newly acquired Pamida stores to the Shopko Hometown format.

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko said Thursday that it has named Nancy Altman as senior VP, chief marketing officer for the general merchandise chain.

Altman, who was previously VP marketing for Ulta, joins Shopko as it is in the process of converting more than 160 Pamida stores to its new Shopko Hometown format as part of a merger with Pamida that was finalized earlier this year. 
 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is using the power of social media to help raise money for needy schools. The retailer has launched a campaign via its Facebook page that will enable fans to vote for schools they think deserve a share of Target's $5 million “Give With Target” initiative this fall. The two-part giving campaign provides $2.5 million in grants to in-need schools, as well as up to $2.5 million in Target GiftCards to local schools.

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended June 30 nearly doubled to $66.7 million, compared with $36 million for second quarter 2011.

Consolidated revenue increased 19.4% to $619.1 million, and same-store sales increased 12.9% in domestic company-owned stores, representing the company's 28th consecutive quarter of positive same store sales growth. 
 

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney is boosting its store-in-store offerings by adding 700 Joe Fresh in-store boutiques to its department stores in April 2013.

Joe Fresh, which is a Canadaian fast-fashion brand, will also be featured on JCP.com.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway Inc has raised more than $9 million during its month-long Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign.