News

Catalog Spree, a digital mall that lets consumers browse, discover and shop their favorite brands, has launched a new beauty department in its mobile shopping app with lookbooks for Sephora, Beauty.com, Avon, Bliss and the Body Shop. 

The new department also features the Catalog Spree-branded Beauty Fall 2013 lookbook which includes brands such as Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Marc Jacobs, NARS and Yves Saint Laurent.

The pet category is experiencing growth, and True Value has taken notice. The retailer is paying special attention to statistics that show 72% of pet owners consider their pet a member of their family, and 70% of dog owners think their dog understands how they are feeling better than most people do.

It's no secret that home owners love their pets, but the category is attractive to independent hardware stores for more retail-centric reasons, according to panelists on a True Value seminar here at the co-op's 2013 Fall Reunion.

Deloitte’s holiday sales forecast points to further signs that the economy is recovering. Holiday sales are expected to climb to between $963 and $967 billion, representing a 4% to 4.5% increase in November through January holiday sales (excluding motor vehicles and gasoline) this year from last year’s season. 

Atlanta – Independent bookstores are reportedly growing sales at a healthy rate despite stiff competition from Amazon.com. According to an article in Fortune, American Booksellers Association figures show that independent bookstore sales in the U.S. grew 8% last year and are on track to grow at a similar pace this year.

Washington, D.C. -- Nearly 158 million consumers will participate in Halloween activities this year, slightly less than the historic high of 170 million people last year. New figures from the National Retail Federation (NRF) indicate the average consumer will spend $75.03 on Halloween this year, down 6% from $79.82 last year.

However, average overall spending on Halloween has increased 54.7% since 2005, with total spending estimated to reach $6.9 billion in 2013. Other NRF figures include:

In a move designed to expand its existing consumer base, Gerber has launched its 2013 photo search, leveraging social media to encourage parents or legal guardians of children up to 48 months of age to participate. 

Participants are asked to upload a recent photo of their children on the Gerber Facebook page for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000 as well as the chance for their child to star in a future advertisement for Gerber. In addition, six Milestone winners will be selected based on Facebook fan votes. Photo entries are being accepted now through Oct. 27.

Weis Markets president and CEO David J. Hepfinger has left the company to pursue other interests. Company vice chairman Jonathan H. Weis has replaced him as interim CEO, and Robert F. Weis remains the company’s chairman.

In preparation for the holiday shopping season, Walmart has announced plans to hire 55,000 seasonal employees. 

The big box retailer also intends to transition more than 35,000 workers from temporary to part-time and another 35,000 workers from part-time to full-time.