Data & Analytics

By Mark Ledbetter, [email protected]

There's a season for everything, and that's no less true for retailers. Merchants have historically enjoyed a central position in the retail universe, driving everything from pricing to availability. How quickly things have changed. Today, try telling a 19-year-old that she can't get a discount on the slightly frayed jeans she found on the discount rack. She'll buy a similar pair online and Tweet about it so fast, it will make your head spin!

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko said Wednesday that it has named Michael B. Cooper as senior VP marketing for the company, charged with leading the branding strategy and marketing initiatives.  

Cooper joined Shopko from Office Depot, where he was most recently VP marketing, and directed the office supply retailer’s strategic planning and allocation of the company’s marketing budget.

New York -- Drugstore operator Duane Reade announced Wednesday the launch of its first mobile application for iOS devices.  

The app, free in the iTunes store, is intended to facilitate and customer access to Duane Reade’s pharmacy services, photo printers, prescription refills, Balance Rewards offers, account information and in-store maps.  

By Rafi Musher, [email protected]

Union, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended March 2 increased 14% to $373.9 million, compared with $351 million in the year-ago period. But the retailer’s guidance for the current quarter came up short.

Sales leaped 24.5% to $3.401 billion, from $2.732 billion, and same-store sales rose 2.5%.

For the fiscal year, net earnings rose 12% to $1.038 billion), from $989.5 million. Full-year revenue rose 14.9% to $10.915 billion, and same-store sales for fiscal 2012 increased 2.7%.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended March 2 edged up to $140.1 million, compared with $136.4 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 17.7% to $2.89 billion from $2.46 billion, and same-store sales rose 2.9%.

New York -- A Wednesday report by Reuters said that Jerry Murray, the Wal-Mart finance VP who called the chain's early February sales "a total disaster" in an email made public by Bloomberg, has left the company, effective April 5.

Wal-Mart Stores has confirmed the report, telling Reuters that it was Murray's decision to leave and that his last day at Wal-Mart was Friday.

Aston, Pa. -- Action Services Group, a national retail and commercial lighting, sign and electrical maintenance and service company announced a service agreement with Morgan’s Foods Inc., operator of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut Express and A&W restaurants under franchises licenses, to perform sign and exterior lighting service and maintenance for 73 of their franchise units.