News

Staples buying Office Depot
New York -- Staples has entered an agreement to acquire Office Depot in a cash and stock deal valued at $6.3 billon that is sure to face a high degree of regulatory scrutiny.
Colgate, Family Dollar partner on Black History Month
Colgate is teaming up with Family Dollar to inspire African-American families during February's Black History Month to honor their past and treasure their future with a healthy smile.

Many Americans, including more than one-third of African-American adults, live with untreated tooth decay. Without proper treatment, tooth decay can progress and eventually result in a cavity or even tooth loss.

Survey: 80% of retailers to increase customer experience spending in 2015

Wakefield, Mass. — More than 80% of retailers plan to increase their customer experience spending in 2015, according to a survey conducted by Econsultancy for SDL, a provider of global customer experience. The report also reveals that while North American retailer brands appreciate the need for technology integration, with 97% citing integration of customer experience technology as “important” or “essential” to their growth, only 40% describe their relevant systems as integrated and cross-functional.
Analysis: Staples-Office Depot Merger Could Lead to Major Industry Consolidation

By Will McKitterick, analyst, IBIS World
Holiday sales lift Kohl's fortunes in 2014

Kohl’s Corp. has increased its outlook for the recently completed business year, citing strong sales growth during the holiday season.

The company reported fourth-quarter same store sales growth of 3.7%. The company also updated its fiscal 2014 earnings per share guidance to a range of $4.20 to $4.22 per share. On average, 27 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $4.06 per share for fiscal 2014.
Wegmans edges out Amazon to top Harris corporate reputation poll

New York — With just 85 stores, Rochester, New York-based Wegmans Food Market edged past online giant Amazon to take the top spot for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 16th annual Harris Poll Reputation Quotient study.

Harris Poll expanded the list to 100 companies this year, up from 60, to offer deeper insight by industry. As a result, three of this year’s top 10 companies are debuting on the list, including No. 1 Wegmans, No. 7 L.L. Bean and No. 8 Publix Supermarkets.
Cornell to clarify Target’s long-term strategy

Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell has made some bold moves since arriving at Target last fall, but the most significant revelations concerning long term prospects will come in early March when the company hosts its first investor conference of the Cornell era.
Brown Shoe names J.C. Penney exec as CFO

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Company announced that Kenneth Hannah has been named senior VP and CFO of the company, replacing Russ Hammer as of Feb. 16.

Hannah most recently served as executive VP and CFO of J.C. Penney Co. Prior to that time, he served in multiple executive roles at SunEdison (formerly MEMC Electronic Materials), including president of Solar Energy and of Solar Materials and as VP and CFO.
Costco comps flat in January

Costco’s same store sales flat-lined in January, disappointing many analysts who had expected a 1.2% increase.
Target’s upcoming investor conference first of Cornell era

New York -- Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell has made some bold moves since arriving at Target last fall, but the most significant revelations concerning long term prospects will come in early March when the company hosts its first investor conference of the Cornell era on March 3.