News

Analysis: Lackluster Sales Set Stage for Humbug Holiday
By Craig Johnson, Customer Growth Partners With a third straight year of dismal retail spending, American consumers will generate only a lackluster 3.4% year-over-year increase in holiday sales, well below the 5% pace in 2010 and 2011, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual Holiday Forecast.
Kantar Retail: Walmart.com asserts price leadership over Amazon

Dollar General extends tender offer to Family Dollar for a second time

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp extended its $80-a-share tender offer to acquire rival Family Dollar Stores Inc. from Oct. 31, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2014, unless further extended. It is the second time Dollar General has extended its offer. About 4 million shares, or some 3.6% of Family Dollar's total share capital of about 114 million, had been validly tendered into the offer as of Oct. 30, Dollar General said in a statement.
Destination XL Group announces expanded credit facility

Canton, Mass. -- Big & tall men's apparel retailer Destination XL Group announced that it has increased its existing asset-based revolving line of credit with Bank of America, N.A. by $25 million to $125 million. In addition, the company entered into a new agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance for a $15 million five-year senior secured second lien term loan.
Kohl’s optimizes item and store performance with Oracle Retail solution

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- Kohl’s has overhauled its core merchandising, inventory, and pricing operations with the launch of a new Oracle Retail Merchandise Operations Management solution, allowing the retailer to coordinate a unified system of record for inventory to better serve multi-channel customers and to simplify its business user experience.
Tuesday Morning turning things around

Off price retailer Tuesday Morning enjoyed an 11.3% surge in its first quarter same store sales as it benefitted from the introduction of new and expanded merchandise categories.
American brand legend honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

A man behind some of America’s favorite brands will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chief Executive magazine. Leslie H. Wexner, chairman and CEO of L Brands will be honored at the CEO2CEO Summit conference, Dec. 4, 2014, at the New York Stock Exchange.
Detergent brand Sun restructuring

Michael Bauersfeld has resigned as Sun Products Corporation’s vp, corporate controller and treasurer to pursue other interests.

The company has appointed Jody L. Macedonio, currently the company’s vp, finance and planning, to the additional role of treasurer, responsible for all treasury functions at the company including investor relations.

Kevin Page, currently the Sun’s director of financial operations has been designated as interim corporate controller.
General Mills connects to Hispanic customers through music

General Mills has partnered with GRAMMY Award-winning group Camila for the company's 2014-2015 Musica y Sabor campaign focused on connecting with customers in the Hispanic markets.
At Barnes & Noble science is all fun and games

When it comes to science and learning, it’s ok to fool around, according to Barnes & Noble. The nation’s largest retail bookseller and the provider of digital content and educational products is launching a one-of-kind Educational Toys and Games Science Center in select stores nationwide and online.
ABF recipient of unprecedented safety award

ABF Freight has done something no other company in the trucking industry has done before.

The Fort Smith, Ark.-based national carrier was awarded the American Trucking Association’s President’s Trophy for the seventh time during the group’s annual safety and human resources conference in Orlando. ABF Freight also received the trucking industry’s most prestigious award in 1984, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2010. No other national carrier has earned the award more than five times.
Voting extended in Family Dollar deal

Dollar General has extended the deadline for Family Dollar shareholders to approve a buyout deal while it continues to recommend a “no” vote on a competing proposal from Dollar Tree.