News

Retail Rap: Stocking Stuffers
With 2014 almost over, another holiday shopping season is drawing to a close. The looming question on everyone’s mind, of course, is whether holiday sales managed to live up to the (mostly) positive holiday forecasts from analysts and retail organizations.
Kraft Foods names new CEO
Kraft Foods Group Inc. says that CEO Tony Vernon plans to retire later this month, and the company has named Chairman John Cahill as his successor.

Vernon will retire on Dec. 27, the last day of the company's fiscal year. He will stay on as a senior adviser through March 31 and as a director until the company's next annual meeting in 2015.

Thieves use creativity, stupidity at Walmart

Two men were arrested after they faked a heart attack in order to steal toys at a Walmart in Central Florida.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Tarus Scott and Genard Dupree teamed up to steal expensive toys, including a motorized Barbie car, a Barbie Glam vacation house and a Leap Frog tablet. But it's how they stole $369 worth of toys that makes this story a little different.
McDonald’s reaches out to customers via beacons

Columbus, Ga. - McDonald’s franchises in Columbus, Georgia are integrating Bluetooth beacon technology from beacon solution provider Piper to deliver coupon offers, timely alerts, employment opportunities and customer surveys right as customers enter the establishments.
Good things come to Sears shoppers who wait

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Consumers who haven’t started their holiday shopping yet have a friend in Sears. Sears, Roebuck & Co. will offer multiple sales events starting on Dec. 19, and announced Dec. 22 as the last day to order online and receive by Christmas.
Meijer gives 213 customers free merchandise for holidays

Grand Rapids, Mich. - Meijer made the holidays very merry for 213 unsuspecting customers recently when those shoppers received a big surprise upon checkout – their entire shopping cart filled with gifts and groceries given to them as a holiday gift.

During the “Very Merry Meijer” event, one customer at each of the retailer's 213 stores across the Midwest was randomly selected on Dec. 13 to receive their purchases free.
Kate Spade designs for West Elm

Home furnishings retailer West Elm announced it is teaming up with Kate Spade Saturday to launch an exclusive collection of furniture, bedding, rugs and home accessories.

The Kate Spade Saturday + West Elm collection is Kate Spade Saturday’s first home collaboration and will be available in West Elm stores in the United States and Canada and on westelm.com in early January.
Shoppers will be buying online right up until Christmas

Los Angeles - When it comes to making online selections, Christmas shoppers are better late than never. A survey released by Bizrate Insights, a division of Connexity, found that many shoppers are still making online holiday purchases, even though there are only a few days left before Christmas. In fact, only 17% of shoppers have finished their Christmas shopping.
Jo-Ann gets crafty with new TV show

Looking to capitalize on the crafting craze, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is partnering with the Craft Retail Group to launch TV programming dedicated specifically to crafting.

The “TV shopping experience” with daily featured shows is scheduled to launch Dec. 29.
Rite Aid boosts guidance after healthy Q3

Rite Aid is raising its guidance for 2015 after a big jump in same store sales lifted the company in the third quarter.

The company reported third-quarter revenues of $6.7 billion, an increase of 5.3%, driven primarily by same-store sales. Same-store sales for the quarter ended Nov. 29 were up 5.4% overall, including a 1.6% lift in front-end same store sales and a 7.2% increase in pharmacy same store sales.