Sales & Marketing

NEW YORK — Even the most fashionable women like to dress down on occasion, and Saks Fifth Avenue has answered the call by expanding its proprietary offerings into casual wear. The retailer has announced the launch of 9|15, which the company says incorporates runway-centric style to the adventurous and ambitious woman. The line’s debut follows the 2011 launch of the Saks Fifth Avenue Collection, and will be featured in the "Wear Now" area of Saks stores around the country.

Los Angeles -- Boingo Wireless has announced agreements with mall owners Westfield and Cafaro to manage and operate retail Wi-Fi networks in several of each developer’s shopping centers.

With this agreement, Boingo now manages Wi-Fi networks in 33 malls across the country.
 

Target was ranked 27th on the 2012 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient study behind five notable retailers and in roughly the same position with the same score as the prior year, the market research firm announced on Monday.

New York City -- The Deloitte American Pantry Study, released Tuesday, polled more than 4,000 shoppers and found that, more than ever, consumers are turning to social networks, smartphones, and tablets to meet their shopping needs.

According to the study, 90% of shoppers know what they’re buying before they arrive at a store. Three-quarters say they are smarter shoppers than they were a year ago, and 86% believe they are getting more precise in what they buy.

Target is looking to get ahead of the curve in major media markets by placing communications executives in such places as Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto in addition to those at the Minneapolis home office, Ad Age reported on Monday.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday reported an increase in 2011 sales of 5% to $2.8 billion.

Weis said its comparable sales for the calendar year also were up, increasing 4.2% for 2011, compared with the year-ago period.

New York City -- Saks Inc. will expand its distribution and fulfillment capacity, adding a new facility in Tennessee in 2012.

The new center will occupy approximately 564,000 sq. ft. of leased space and will be located in LaVergne, Tenn. It will be equipped with a sophisticated mobile-robotic fulfillment system that has been successfully deployed in Saks’ Maryland facility.

Saks expects the Tennessee facility to be operational by August 2012.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets reported Monday that net income for the year ended Dec. 31 increased 10.7% to $75.6 million. Sales for the period rose 5% to $2.8 billion, and same-store sales increased 4.2%.

In the fourth quarter, the grocer saw an even stronger performance, as net income surged 37%, sales rose 11.4% and comps increased 4.8%.