Sales & Marketing

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - OfficeMax announced it has launched a new enhanced 2.0 version of its free for the iPhone App on the App Store and is making the App available on Google's Android platform. The 2.0 version gives users the ability to view OfficeMax's weekly ad and special offers -- all right from their mobile device.  OfficeMax also added local store hours and phone numbers to the App's GPS-enabled store locator function.

Chicago -- Year-over-year retail sales increased 6.5% for the week ending Jan. 1, according to ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate, while the company’s Retail Traffic Index (SRTI) reported foot traffic rose 4.1% for the same period.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Winn-Dixie Stores announced that Laurence Appel, who joined Winn-Dixie in 2002 and formerly served as general counsel, corporate secretary and SVP human resources, has been named SVP retail operations. Appel replaces Frank Eckstein, who has retired from his current role but will continue to serve in an advisory capacity until the end of fiscal year 2011. 

Reston, Va. -- Retail e-commerce spending for the entire November -- December 2010 holiday season reached $32.6 billion, marking a 12% increase versus last year and an all-time record for the season, according to comScore.

An expanding number of consumers in search of value and an improved shopping experience at Family Dollar propelled the company to its strongest first-quarter same-store sales increase in 12 years, but profits for the period and the earnings outlook were below analysts’ estimates.

“Our comparable-store sales increase of 6.9% is the best first quarter result we’ve delivered in more than 12 years,” said Family Dollar chairman and CEO Howard Levine

Fort Worth, Texas -- Buxton, a leading customer analytics firm, has named Charles Wetzel as its new CEO.

Wetzel, 35, started at Buxton in 2004 as COO. He assumed the role of president in 2008.

“Charles is the ideal candidate to assume the CEO post at Buxton,” said Tom Buxton, founder and chairman of Buxton. “He holds the right combination of analytical expertise and management needed to lead this company into the future.”

St. Paul, Minn. -- Paster Enterprises said that five new tenants have been secured at the company’s projects throughout the area. New tenants include Furniture CLW, No Box TVs, Chickadee’s House, Anytime Fitness and Wilson’s Leather Outlet.

In Crystal Shopping Center, a 370,000-sq.-ft. community center, Wilson’s Leather Outlet will open a 3,171-sq.-ft. store. In Lexington Plaza Shoppes, a 26,747-sq.-ft. neighborhood center, Chickadee’s House will open a 1,332-sq.-ft. bird enthusiast store.

By Steve Castro-Miller, president and CEO of Bold Software, [email protected]