Sales & Marketing

Fayetteville, Ark. - A report Monday said that Wal-Mart Stores is preparing to test a small-format store it is calling “Walmart on Campus” at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

According to the report by Advertising Age, the pilot appears to be part of a series of tests of Walmart’s smaller-format stores.

The time to ponder that question is when everything is going right, which pretty much seems to be the case at Target these days. The company’s stable senior leadership team has articulated a clear strategy that is being well-executed and delivering expectation-exceeding results such as a 5.5% gain in November same-store sales and third quarter earnings per share that surged 28.5% to 74 cents.

NEW YORK - A seminar on collaborative merchandising initiatives at the upcoming National Retail Federation convention should draw considerable interest due to the involvement of Target and ConAgra Foods. The seminar is sponsored by DemandTec, a company whose suite of merchandising solutions have been used by both companies since 2007. The session will be facilitated by DemandTec’s SVP consumer products Rob Culin.

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. - Rug manufacturer Nourison has named Sabrina Roberts has been director of national accounts. Roberts will be responsible for the opening and development of key national accounts at Nourison, as well as assist in expanding business with existing national retail accounts. 

Roberts was most recently with JCPenney, where she helped grow the company's home division online and served as senior buyer for its area and accent rug division. 

Walmart has been a non-player in toys this year, according to Eric Johnson, director of the Center for Digital Strategies at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. He was quoted in a Bloomberg article this week about how Walmart increased toy prices after Thanksgiving weekend. Johnson is regarded as something of a toy expert, so he pops up in holiday stories and he has been critical of Walmart this year.

ARLINGTON, Va. and WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association both issued statements supporting the final passage of a bipartisan agreement for extending critical individual and business taxes.

MINNEAPOLIS - Best Buy announced that it is introducing health and fitness products at 600 Best Buy stores across the country and online at Bestbuy.com. Available products include personal gear related to running, walking, swimming and yoga as well as other fitness accessories.

Best Buy’s national expansion follows a pilot program launched a year ago, during which the company tested a broad selection of health and fitness gear in 40 stores in select markets.

NEW YORK — Flirt! Cosmetics, which is available exclusively at Kohl's, has teamed up with "Glee" star Heather Morris, who will be the new celebrity style ambassador in support of the brand's spring 2011 product collection.

Morris will act as ambassador for brands appearing on Flirt!'s website and social networks and will supportx in-store and promotional efforts, including a consumer contest looking for the next "flirtiest performer." The campaign will launch in early 2011.