Data & Analytics

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's first-quarter profit dropped 38% amid promotions and price cuts. The company also issued disappointing predictions for the current quarter and full year.

Kirkland’s said it earned $2 million for the quarter ended April 28, down from $3.2 million last year.

Sales rose 3.6% to $97.8 million from $94.4 million. Same-store sales edged down 1.2%.

The home décor chain said it increased marketing to counter a drop in sales.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports Inc. said Friday that its fiscal first-quarter net income increased 24% on higher demand for sneakers and other athletic gear. The retailer also raised its profit outlook for the year.

For the three months through April 28, Hibbett earned a better-than-expected $26.4 million, up from $21.3 million in the same quarter last year.

Sunbury, Pa.  -- Weis Markets on Thursday announced it has begun the construction of an environmentally innovative 65,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Fogelsville, Pa.

When construction is completed, the store is expected to achieve U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for measurably reducing or mitigating its environmental impact for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Thursday announced it has begun the construction of an environmentally innovative 65,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Fogelsville, Pa.

When construction is completed, the store is expected to achieve U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for measurably reducing or mitigating its environmental impact for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

By Craig McLaughlin, [email protected]

There is a growing trend in the loyalty rewards space -- using reward points as currency, creating a more holistic, streamlined approach to loyalty programs.

Portland, Ore. -- Safeway launched an online and mobile shopping program, called Just for U, in the company's Oregon and Washington divisions. The program, which delivers targeted savings directly to a customer's Safeway Club Card, can be accessed through the new Safeway Mobile App for iPhone or Android.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. announced a series of management changes that it said it was undertaking to accelerate its innovation and growth. The changes come after Starbucks missed its global sales forecasts in April, mainly due to a downturn in Europe.

The company named Craig Russell, the senior VP U.S. Store Services, as senior VP of the Global Coffee division.

New York -- Although the adoption of social media by sales, marketing and customer service departments continues to grow rapidly, by the end of 2012, only 50% of Fortune 1000 companies will receive a worthwhile return on investment from their social customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives, according to Garner.