News

RADNOR, Pa. — Search giant Google has agreed to buy Channel Intelligence for $125 million, allowing to expand its role in the retail space. 

A division of ICG Group, Channel Intelligence claims to count Target, Best Buy and other large retailers and brands that rely on its marketing services to drive sales. 

ABILENE, Kan — Alco reported that total sales, excluding fuel, increased 26% to $34.8 million for the fiscal five-week period ended Feb. 3, compared with $27.6 million during the four-week period of the prior year. On a same-store basis, excluding fuel, sales increased 21.4% from a year earlier. 

New York -- Although there were some surprising gains among retailers in January, for the most part results were expectedly mixed, as consumers took a hit on their take-home pay from higher payroll taxes but cooler weather gave a boost to others.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has launched a new campaign aimed at drawing attention to its vast assortment of products for the small business customer.

The commercials, including one 30-second and three 15-second varieties, will begin airing on Feb. 11 and will highlight Staples all-in-one-place availability of products and services.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) and Harbor Habitat for Humanity have completed construction on the homes built in partnership with Tynisha Murphy and the Patterson family, dedicating the homes in a ceremony that took place Dec. 8. The builds took place on side-by-side lots in the Harbor Shores community of Benton Harbor. 

Reston, Va. -- A report released Thursday by comScore found that retail e-commerce sales in the U.S. rose to $186.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 15% and the strongest annual growth rate since before the recession.

Fourth quarter 2012 sales grew 14% year-over-year to $56.8 billion, marking the first-ever $50 billion quarter. It also represents the 13th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
 

Former Delhaize America CEO and Hannaford Bros. executive Ronald C. Hodge has joined the board of the Park City Group.

Hodge most recently served as an advisor to Delhaize America following a stint as CEO from March 2011 to Octomber 2012. Prior to Delhaize, Hodge spent 31 years with Hannaford Bros. Co., during which time he held various executive roles, including the position of CEO from 2001 to 2011.

AutoZone has elected Linda A. Goodspeed to its board of directors. Goodspeed is SVPand chief information officer (CIO) of The ServiceMaster Company, a position she has held since 2011.

"Linda's extensive background in information technology and the automotive industry will complement and enhance the collective skills of our Board," said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO. "We are fortunate to have her as a new board member."

Prior to joining The ServiceMaster Company, Goodspeed was VP information systems for Nissan North America.