Sales & Marketing

The current upheaval we’re experiencing with booksellers reminds me of those nature documentaries where the host talks about what happens when a giant tree in the forest comes crashing down, leaving a gaping hole in the forest canopy. In those instances, dozens of smaller trees and plants spring up to take advantage of that gap and soak up the new light.

NEW YORK— Target, Kohl's and JCPenney ranked highest among discounters in consumer perception in the first half of 2011, according to YouGov BrandIndex. The company interviews 5,000 people each weekday from a representative U.S. population sample, more than 1.2 million interviews per year.

Here is YouGov’s Retail Buzz scores for discounters in the first half of 2011:

1.  Target (33.9) 

2. Kohl's (29.5) 

3. J.C. Penney (23.9) 

Kudos to Borders for not forgetting its most loyal customers as it begins the slow and painful process of shutting down operations.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy is adding a dozen dishes to its gourmet line.

The line of restaurant-quality products, launched in February, now will include 12 new items, including pizza, Hawaiian pork and more, in addition to "Gourmet for Two" meals, which provide customers with a restaurant-quality meal for two for under $10.

New York City -- Marks & Spencer’s new Simply Food in Sheffield, England, is its greenest store to date, incorporating an array of sustainable design and construction features. The 12,430-sq.-ft. supermarket also has the distinction of being the first store in the United Kingdom to be 100% lit with LED technology (from Philips).

Mexico City, Mexico -- DemandTec said Thursday that Latin America’s largest drugstore retailer Farmacias Ahumada S.A. (FASA) has extended its agreement to use DemandTec’s advanced pricing analytics to drive profit and customer loyalty.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is positioning itself to be the largest retail host of electric vehicle charging stations, the drug store chain announced Thursday.

New York City -- Victorinox Swiss Army said Thursday it will open five stores in 2011, the first of which opened July 1 in The Westchester in White Plains, NY.

According to Joachim Beer, president of global fashion and retail for the chain, future store openings include Boston, Short Hills, N.J., and Los Angeles, all slated to open prior to year end.