News

UPS reported second quarter results that were below the company's expectations as a result of disappointing performance in freight forwarding and a "slight miss" in International package.

By Lee Peterson, wdpartners.com

Across-the-board payroll cuts have rarely delivered margins long-term for retailers. Crude cuts are more than misguided today, but a dangerous strategy for stores in the fight for survival against Amazon.

INDIANAPOLIS — Office supplies and clothing retailers are not the only ones vying for foot traffic during back-to-school season. Students need laptops and other consumer electronics, too, and specialty retailer HH Gregg is jumping into the fray with its list of sales and specials targeted at the tech-savvy crowd.

The Indianapolis-based retailer is marketing lightweight laptops, fully equipped with high-powered processors and storage, and Samsung tablets to schools with computer- and audiovisual-equipped classrooms as well as college-bound students. 

Same store sales increased 1.3% at RadioShack during the second quarter, but clearance driven sales activity took a toll on profitability and the retailer enlisted the services of several turnaround firms.

Vancouver, B.C. – 99 Cents Only Stores is digitizing its audit management procedures with the ACL GRC internal audit management system. Leveraging the GRC solution, the retailer will replace spreadsheets and shared drives. Anticipated benefits include increased collaboration and visibility among team members, the ability to more easily perform risk assessments and scoring, and ease of workflow adjustment as new issues and risks are identified.

PASADENA, Calif. — Avery Dennison Corporation’s first-quarter 2013 results were in line with its expectations, according to chairman, president and CEO Dean Scarborough.

The company’s total net sales for the quarter were $1.5 billion, an increase of 4% from $1.4 billion for the same quarter a year ago. Net sales adjusted to exclude the estimated impact of currency translation, product line exits, acquisitions and divestitures increased 4%. 

What’s your favorite department store? The experts at London-based design consultancy Dalziel+Pow have just come out with their top 10 global department store destinations. It’s an interesting list, with some familiar players, and some less so.

Here are the firm’s picks:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Acosta Sales & Marketing, a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry, today announced that David Moran has joined its board of directors.