Sales & Marketing

Boston -- Research results released Thursday by mobile and social merchandising solution-provider Zmags found that less than one-third of the top 100 Internet retailers are prepared for tablet shopping.

According to “Mobile & Tablet e-Commerce: Is anyone really ready?” commissioned by research firm Hawk Partners, too few retailers have optimized sites for tablet commerce. Most are simply relying on their standard websites to provide an “adequate enough” tablet shopping experience.

EDISON, N.J. — Bestselling author and daytime host Rachael Ray has launched a new line of seasoning grinders.

Rachael Ray Seasoning Grinders are available in 10 varieties in generous-sized bottles, ranging from single ingredients such as Pink Himalyan Salt to blends of nine to 12 spices, including Rockin’ Rainbow Peppercorn Blend, 24/7 Seasoning (everyday/all-purpose), Spice-it-Up Chili Seasoning, Buon Appetito Italian Seasoning, Bump Up Your Burger Seasoning, Seafood Seasoning, and Perfect Poultry Seasoning. 

Tarrytown, N.Y. -- DLC Management Corp. announced that it has named Jonathan Wigser as chief investment officer, charged with leading all of the company’s acquisition and disposition activities.

Since joining DLC in 2002, Wigser has been involved in the acquisition and disposition of more than $1.1 billion of retail real estate, in addition to raising more than $250 million of equity from institutional and high net worth investors.

NEW YORK — In honor of the 2012 Academy Awards, Tiffany & Co. has engaged the services of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe to create a window display that highlights Hollywood glamour from the 1930s through the 1970s. 

Zoe’s windows are unveiled at Tiffany & Co. flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and London.

Lancaster, Pa. -- One of the supermarket chains operated by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold has installed rooftop solar panels at two of its stores.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores — also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, also owned by Ahold — said it had installed solar photovoltaic systems at stores in Lancaster and Pottstown, Pa.

Despite considerable efforts by Walmart in recent years to improve its reputation, a recent Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient poll shows the company has considerable room for improvement.

The study, now in its 13th year, surveyed 17,500 consumers about their perceptions of the 60 most visible companies in America. Not surprisingly, a fair number of those were major national retailers who have become household names. Walmart ranked 41st overall on the list of 60 companies and 10 other retailers were ranked ahead of Walmart.

Seattle -- Nordstrom reported Thursday that net earnings for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 1.7% to $236 million, compared with $232 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 12.5 % to $3.17 billion, and same-store sales increased 7.1%. Nordstrom Rack sales rose 17.7% in the quarter, to $85 million.

For the full year, total net sales were $10.5 billion, representing the highest in the company’s history. Net earnings were up 11.4% to $683 million, compared with $613 million a year earlier.

Washington, D.C. -- POS solution-provider POSitive Technology said Thursday that It'Sugar has selected them as their POS partner to implement the Microsoft Dymanics RMS and OpSuite solutions to meet the company’s growth needs.

Candy retailer It'Sugar plans to open as many as 10 new stores in 2012, in addition to continuous updating and refreshing of inventory to keep pace with sales and customer preferences, said the company.