News

Americans spent lots of money on apparel in September, and Target was among the beneficiaries, reporting that the category’s performance exceeded the total company same-store sales increase of 5.3%. Target didn’t elaborate on any key merchandising initiatives that may have influenced the results, such as the launch of the Missoni collection, but it was hardly alone in reporting strong apparel sales.

NEW YORK — Supermarket chain Stop & Shop will work with Foodshare to sponsor events at its stores in Hartford, Conn., to help qualifying residents access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit.

About 70% of Connecticut residents who qualify for SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program, actually receive the benefit, Stop & Shop said. This is because of such issues as language barriers, lack of transportation or lack of knowledge of the program.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN is bringing Quick Response (QR) codes to a new shopping frontier by becoming the first retailer to use them on television.

Through Oct. 10 as part of the company's Innovation Weekend event, HSN will debut QR codes on its HD channel, which currently reaches approximately 43 million households. Customers will be able to scan the QR code of hundreds of products, the company said, giving them access the product information page on their mobile device, learn more about the product and purchase with ease.

Sidney, Neb. -- Firethorn Mobile, Inc.! said Friday that outdoor retailer Cabela’s will use the Swagg Smartphone application, providing shoppers with mobile access to special retail offers and customer loyalty programs.

The app includes a GPS locater, providing customers with a localized merchant list and detailed description according to their current location. It will also feature user-generated cards, in which users can add their own cards such as AAA, American Red Cross, library, and local merchants.

ATLANTA — The Home Depot Thursday announced it has named Teresa Wynn Roseborough EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary. She will join the company's senior leadership team and report to Frank Blake, chairman and CEO.

Roseborough will be responsible for leading The Home Depot's legal department, as well as its government relations and corporate security services functions. She will assume her new role on Nov. 7.

Atlanta -- Haverty Furniture reported Thursday that total revenue for its third quarter slipped 1.1% to $155.4 million, compared with $157.1 million for the third quarter last year. Same-store sales fell 0.6%.

The chain remains optimistic about the fourth quarter.
 

CINCINNATI — Kroger announced that its annual Honoring Our Heroes fundraising campaign to support the United Service Organizations garnered $1.5 million.

The funds were raised in partnership with customers and associates through a variety of in-store activities at Kroger stores nationwide, as well as online at HonoringOurHeroes.com. Procter & Gamble and Anheuser Busch also participated in the program and contributed $250,000 each in conjunction with special sales programs in Kroger stores.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree said that its board has approved a $1.5 billion share repurchase program. The company said it has invested more than $1.9 billion for share repurchase since 2003, including $414.7 million in 2010 and $345.9 million in 2011, to date.