News

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports, Inc. substantially missed expectations with a 32% decline in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period last year. Net income totaled $17.8 million in the most recent fiscal quarter, down from $26.2 million.

Total sales were $395.6 million, a 7.6% increase from $367.6 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% during the second quarter.

Like other retailers, Kohl’s is preparing for the holiday shopping season and plans to hire more than 50,000 people nationwide to support business in stores and growth on Kohls.com.

Pier 1 Imports president and CEO Alex W. Smith identified misguided marketing and store assortments as the primary causes for the retailer’s poor earnings and performance for the second quarter ended Aug. 31. 

The retailer substantially missed expectations with a 32% decline in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period last year. Net income totaled $17.8 million in the most recent fiscal quarter, down from $26.2 million.

Global management consulting firm Hay Group has released its eighth annual Best Companies for Leadership Study and global Top 20 list. Walmart made the list as the seventh best company for leadership in 2013, up from eighth place in 2011/2012 and ninth place in 2010.  

The study surveyed nearly 18,000 individuals at more than 2,200 organizations worldwide to examine how companies develop their leaders and foster cultures of innovation. This year, Procter & Gamble led the Top 20 list followed by Microsoft, General Electric and Coca-Cola. 

By Jeff Wakefield, Verifone

Mobility. It is such a broad concept, meaning different things to merchants and consumers. Mobile acceptance, mobile payments, mobile POS, mobile shopping – each plays a distinct part in the overall mobile experience and each has different risks and rewards.

Within this larger mobile arena, the security of the mobile payment device offers the greatest risk for both merchants and consumers alike.

PHOENIX — WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment, parent company to the nationally syndicated “Kim Komando Show,” has appointed longtime SkyMall president Christine Aguilera as chief operating officer of WestStar MultiMedia and president of WestStar Merchandising.

Deerfield Park, Ill. – Walgreens has entered into a multi-year agreement to provide Inovalon's data-driven encounter support platform, Electronic Patient Assessment Solution Suite (ePASS) within healthcare clinics at select Walgreens to support improvements in managed care quality and performance.

The ePASS platform allows identification and resolution of gaps in quality, care, assessment, documentation, and risk score accuracy, as well as analytical capabilities. It will be rolled out at 400 stores nationwide.

Macy’s is an exclusive launch partner for Apple’s new iAd-supported streaming radio service, iTunes radio, as part of the retailer’s omnichannel marketing strategy. 

Macy’s can leverage iAd on iTunes radio to reach a broad cross-section of consumers with compelling digital, visual and audio engagement experiences on their iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Mac or PC.