Sales & Marketing

Waban, Mass. -- Research released Monday by Temkin Group, which ranked the customer experience at 206 large companies across 18 industries, found that several grocers are offering excellent customer service.

Wheaton, Ill. -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management announced that the expansive renovation of Rice Lake Square, in Wheaton, Ill., has been completed.

The 251,313-sq.-ft. shopping center, renovated over a five-month period, received new roof uplighting and tower elements, two new pedestrian plazas, several parking spaces, improvements to traffic flow and landscaping, and new signage that was placed last December.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two Feeding America food banks and a Macomb County, Mich., resident were named winners of Meijer's "Get Gifted" online holiday contest.

The retailer said it donated $10,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank and Forgotten Harvest last week and named Vickie Spokes its grand prize winner of $10,000 in Meijer gift cards.

585 Boardriders, a new retail concept from Quiksilver Inc., is designed as the ultimate destination for surfers and those who aspire to the surf-inspired lifestyle. Housing clothes and accessories from the company’s various brands, including Roxy and DC, the 10,000-sq.-ft. store also stocks an extensive selection of boards and wetsuits.

WABAN, Mass. — Publix earned top marks for customer service in a new survey by Temkin Group. The firm rated the customer experience of 206 large companies across 18 industries. 

In the grocery industry, Publix earned the top spot and is the second overall company across all 206 companies in the study. Aldi, H.E.B., and Winn-Dixie also scored very well. These four grocery chains received "excellent" customer experience ratings, a level that was only earned by eight companies across all 18 industries, Temkin Group reported.

New York City -- Royal Ahold NV has agreed to acquire bol.com, the Netherlands’ largest online retailer, for about $470 million in cash.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe's rebranding efforts and focus on delivering a better customer experience seem to be paying off as the company ended the year with strong fourth-quarter sales and earnings.

The company reported net earnings of $322 million for the fourth quarter, a 13% increase over the same period a year ago. Diluted earnings per share increased 23.8% to 26 cents from 21 cents in the fourth quarter of 2010. 

New York City -- Bloomingdale’s said Monday it has launched a new customer loyalty program called Loyallist in all U.S. retail locations and online.