News

New York -- Advance Auto Parts achieved record sales, profits and store expansion last year and with many of the economic factors that contributed to its 2011 success, expected to remain in place this year expectations are high that 2012 will be another one for the record books.
 

SAN FRANCISCO — Three-of-every-4 consumers using smartphones and tablets respond to a call to action after seeing a location-specific message, according to the Mobile Audience Insights Report issued by JiWire on Wednesday.

Glendale, Ariz. -- Westwood Financial Corp. has sold Olive Square, an 86,225-sq-.ft. retail center in Glendale, Ariz., to seller North American Realty Acquisition Corporation for $6.3 million.

Ahead of Walmart's fourth-quarter sales and earnings report on Feb. 21, analysts have high expectations for the company. Reuters reported that nalysts on average expect to see the company's best U.S. sales performance in more than two years, and anticipate that Walmart's store traffic will improve.

To see more about what Reuters had to say, click here.

At Westfield San Francisco Centre, shoppers have the opportunity to win a $1,000 shopping spree, while Westfield has the chance to gain valuable marketing access.

Westfield mall patrons are invited to text “spree” and their email address in order to be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree. The text also opts them in to receive ongoing alerts and up to four messages per month from Westfield.

Opt-out is easy, requiring only a “stop” text to a designated number.

EDISON, N.J. — Bestselling author and daytime host Rachael Ray has launched a new line of seasoning grinders.

Rachael Ray Seasoning Grinders are available in 10 varieties in generous-sized bottles, ranging from single ingredients such as Pink Himalyan Salt to blends of nine to 12 spices, including Rockin’ Rainbow Peppercorn Blend, 24/7 Seasoning (everyday/all-purpose), Spice-it-Up Chili Seasoning, Buon Appetito Italian Seasoning, Bump Up Your Burger Seasoning, Seafood Seasoning, and Perfect Poultry Seasoning. 

NEW YORK — In honor of the 2012 Academy Awards, Tiffany & Co. has engaged the services of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe to create a window display that highlights Hollywood glamour from the 1930s through the 1970s. 

Zoe’s windows are unveiled at Tiffany & Co. flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and London.

Toy buyers, manufacturers, retailers and others, simply curious about the latest trends, gathered this week at the massive Javitz Center in New York City to see what would be the hottest products for 2012.

Technology continues to be a popular driver of new products, as evidenced by the number of toys designed specifically to work with the iPhone or iPad. However, there was also an apparent shift toward more simple toys, perhaps reflecting the current economy and the inability of many parents to shell out $100 on a toy that will only get played with a short while.