Sales & Marketing

Target shoppers at a store in Van Nuys, Calif. were surprised, and briefly inconvenienced, when a flash mob assembled by season nine American Idol contestant Todrick Hall took over the front end of the store and blocked access to check-out stands.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. announced Monday that Kathleen Guion, division president of store operations and store development, will retire from the company effective July 31, 2012.

According to Dollar General, during her tenure Guion oversaw more than 9,500 stores in 35 states and revamped the company’s real estate strategy. Before assuming her current role in November 2005, Guion served as executive VP store operations. Prior to joining Dollar General in 2003, she served as president and CEO of Duke and Long Distributing Co.

CHICAGO — Just days after announcing a cooperation agreement with Nielsen, Walmart has entered a new relationship with SymphonyIRI Group, through which the two will develop a solution that supports the retailer's customer-centric initiatives.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group said Monday it has opened a new, 12,663-sq.-ft. Destination XL in Phoenix, which joins five locations in Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Nevada and Tennessee.

The company said it plans to open up to 13 DXL stores during the balance of 2011, another 20-30 stores during 2012 and approximately 100 stores over a four to five year period.

Casual Male also said it is preparing to launch a DXL website, with a multi-channel solution similar to the DXL store experience. 

American consumers may not like inflation, but retailers are enjoying the favorable impact rising prices have on their same-store sales calculations. It was evident last month when most retailers reported healthy comp increases, and more of the same could be in store for July as it appears retailers are effectively passing through increased prices to shoppers.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced Monday it is launching a charitable organization with a goal to provide children access to healthy foods.

Whole Kids Foundation, said the grocer, will work with schools, educators and other organizations to help improve children's food choices.

The foundation's first initiative is a program to help put in place or expand teaching gardens to help build children's relationships with food through the power of gardening.

Target and Macy’s get the nod from Citigroup retail analyst Deb Weinswig as top picks to fare well this back-to-school season. In contrast to last week’s NRF survey, which forecasts a slight decline in spending, Weinswig is of the opinion that this year broadline and drug retailers will have their strongest seasonal performance since 2006 thanks to new fashion trends, a favorable weather outlook, inflation and high-end consumer demand.

Clifton, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Compare Supermarket has signed on to anchor Clifton Plaza in Clifton, N.J.

The 16,000-sq.-ft. lease commitment and Clifton Plaza’s transition to a grocery-anchored property coincide with Levin’s renovation/expansion at the 80,127-sq.-ft. shopping center.