News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's total sales for the 53-week fiscal 2012 increased 4% to $2 billion from $1.9 billion for the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 1.1%. Excluding the effect of the extra week in the current year, fiscal 2012 comparable store sales for the year decreased 1.4% from the year-earlier period. 

NEW YORK — Harris Interactive has revealed the brands that Americans rank highest in brand equity. Surveying more than 38,000 American consumers, it measures the level of quality, familiarity, and purchase consideration for each brand, and then awards "Brand of the Year" status to the top-ranked brand from each category.

AVON, Ohio — Duck Tape, a product of ShurTech Brands, announced today a new Duck Tape print featuring the pop music group One Direction.

ATLANTA — Newell Rubbermaid announced plans to open a new design center by early 2014 in Kalamazoo, Mich. This will enable Newell Rubbermaid to add depth in new design specialties, join a strong local presence of design-led companies including Herman Miller , Steelcase, Whirlpool, Stryker and Wolverine, as well as participate in a growing educational community that includes Western Michigan University.

NORWALK, Conn. — Pepperidge Farm has launched a new website that will enable customers to create personalized packages of its Goldfish brand crackers.

The site offers users an array of fun options to personalize Goldfish packages. Users can add their own photos and custom messages, and even pick their favorite Goldfish cracker colors to create special combinations.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Ebay is projecting its revenue will grow by 50% over the next three years as it develops successful strategies to maintain itself as a commerce leader.

In a company-held meeting for the financial community, Ebay said it intends to drive strong continued growth in its core Marketplaces, PayPal and GSI Commerce businesses. At the same time, the company is focused on leveraging its global mobile commerce leadership and other commerce technologies to enable new experiences for consumers and retailers.

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line said its fourth-quarter profit dropped 18% as gross margins fell and overall sales declined more than analysts expected. The chain’s adjusted earnings and same-store sales growth, however, were in-line with its expectations.

For the fourth quarter ended March 2, Finish Line reported net income of $34.3 million, down from $41.9 million a year earlier.

Memphis -- Fred's Inc. said Thursday that its fourth-quarter net income decreased 33% amid higher operating costs and restrained consumer spending. The discounter’s forecast for this year also fell below analyst expectations.

Net income for the three months ended Feb. 2 fell to $6.6 million, compared to $9.8 million the year before.

Revenue increased 7%, to $533.4 million, also below analysts’ expectations. Same-store sales were up 4.8%.    

Imagine a store with a back staff of robots, where items appear, almost magically, in the fitting room. A store where customers pay for their purchases in their dressing rooms, without interacting with a single salesperson. You can stop imagining … check out Hointer, an apparel (mostly men’s jeans) shop in Seattle.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp reported a nearly 50% increase rise in fourth-quarter profit fueled by gains in its mobile and digital businesses. Profit rose to $261.1 million from $174.7 million.

Revenue for the quarter ended Feb. 2, 2013, totaled $3.56 billion compared to $3.58 billion last year. Same-store sales were down 4.6%.