Data & Analytics

MONTREAL — Dollar stores in the United States have seen much success in recent years (check out Retailing Today's report on Dollar General here) and they appear to be doing just as well north of the border.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning reported net sales for the third quarter ended March 31 were $172.7 million compared with $174.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, a decrease of 0.9%. Comparable-store sales for the quarter ended March 31 decreased by 3.2% comprised of a 1.8% decrease in traffic and a 1.4% decrease in ticket.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday evening elected Jan Babiak, a retired managing partner for Ernst & Young, to its board of directors. Babiak, who joins the board as an independent director, becomes the board’s 12th member.

PARAMUS, N.J. — Ikea has officially plugged in the solar energy system installed at its location in Paramus, N.J.

Ikea contracted with REC Solar for the development, design and installation of the customized solar power system. The 132,000-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 1,063-kW system, built with 4,620 panels. It will produce approximately 1,359,100 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,033 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 184 cars or powering 117 homes yearly.

MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy’s announcement on Tuesday morning that its CEO Brian Dunn had resigned the company by mutual agreement has been updated with information that a review is being conducted concerning the former chief executive’s personal conduct.

Best Buy initially said that there were no disagreements or specific problems related to the retailer’s operations, financial controls or procedures. But later in the day on Tuesday it said the company was conducting an internal investigation into his “personal conduct.”

Less than a year from today Target’s first stores in Canada open and the company encounters a familiar competitive challenge in Walmart as well as some unfamiliar operators.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Michael Brown, EVP and CIO of Lowe's is retiring after nearly 28 years with the company and has announced plans to accept the company’s voluntary separation program.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.2% in April compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year gains should continue through the end of summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Retailers are continuing to watch rising gas prices, but job gains and other indicators show the economy is strengthening,” NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold said.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Cos. announced that Michael K. Brown, executive VP and CIO, will retire after almost 28 years with the company. The company has begun a search for a replacement. Brown will continue to serve in his present role for a period of time to assist with the transition.

Brown was named CIO in 2011 after a 26-year career in store operations and merchandising. He joined the company in 1984.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced six SolarCity projects on stores in Colorado, marking the company's 100th solar power installation in the United States and moving it closer to its long-term goal of using 100% renewable energy for all its retail and distribution facilities.