News

TOWSON, Md. — Black & Decker has announced the availability of its RapidRoller paint roller. According to the company, the RapidRoller provides a convenient, easy-to-use solution for painting projects, and helps consumers complete those projects up to two times faster than with traditional rollers.

RapidRoller's features include a handle that holds and dispenses paint and an exclusive three-position pivoting roller frame that allows users to paint up to the edge, in tough-to-reach corners and narrow locations like hallways, closets and bathrooms.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less/Foods Co have kicked off their respective charitable campaigns to benefit children in the markets they serve.

Germantown, Md. -- Children’s apparel brand Carter’s will undergo a major network upgrade to deliver stronger security, better performance, and in-store wireless connectivity to be provided by Hughes Network Systems, a global provider of broadband satellite networks and services, and managed network and application services.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart announced that it is offering 20,000 free tickets to the America I AM: The African-American Imprint tour, of which Walmart is a presenting sponsor. America I AM, a four-year touring exhibition that celebrates nearly 500 years of African-American contributions to this country, will make its Washington, D.C. debut at the National Geographic Museum on Feb. 2.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the National Restaurant Association said that restaurant industry sales are expected to reach a record $604 billion and post positive growth in 2011 after a three-year period of negative real sales growth.

The Association’s 2011  Restaurant Industry Forecast projects an industry sales increase of 3.6% over 2010 sales, which equals 1.1% in real (inflation-adjusted) terms.

The Chicco brand of baby gear hit Target stores this week with three key items featured in the retailer’s weekly ad. Those same items were then called out in stores with red placards the size of album covers, in case anyone remembers what those were, that featured the advertised sales price. The items featured included a Chicco Cortina travel system for $260, a highchair for $130 and a playpen for $160.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears announced that it has partnered with wedding and entertaining expert David Tutera for the debut of the David Tutera Bridal Jewelry Collection. All settings in the Eternal, Heirloom, Radiance and Legacy designs, of which the premiere collection is comprised, will be available at Sears stores nationwide as well as online at http://www.Sears.com/DavidTuteraJewelry beginning Feb. 1.

By Eric White, Doug Reynolds and Michael Rozin

Retail is an evolving business that must constantly adapt to changing consumer demands, technologies and economic and demographic trends. Retailers are extremely adept at this, and are perpetually reinventing the way they do business, both in terms of interactions with consumers and also how they streamline operations. This is a requirement for successful retailers because, like it or not, everything impacts retail: technology, weather, politics and even terrorism.