News

Walgreens names new CMO
Walgreens Walgreens has named Linda Filler as president of retail products and chief merchandising officer effective Jan. 1.

Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson said: “With the addition of Linda, our retail products division will be well-positioned to join with Alliance Boots to deliver the unique combination of products and services that will set apart our future combined company.”
New York & Co. plans cost cuts after tough Q3
An increase in selling, general & administrative (SG&A) expenses helped increase net loss at New York & Company Inc. to $9.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $3.4 million a year earlier.

Net sales declined 3% to $210.6 million from $217.3 million, and same-store sales dropped 3.4%. New York & Co. cited soft performance in its wear-to-work category and the impact of product delays resulting from West Coast port labor issues as negatively impacting sales.

Sam’s Club takes on travel with new app

Sam’s Club Travel is the name of the warehouse club operator’s new mobile application that offers interesting new functionality and members only savings.

Sam’s has offered travel services for a long time but the new app is a noteworthy development because it is distinct from the existing Sam’s Club app. Sam’s Club said it is the first mass market retailer to offer members a mobile app exclusively dedicated to leisure and business travel needs.
Optimism abounds at Sears/Kmart

Kmart eked out a positive third quarter same store sales increase, but parent company Sears Holdings still reported a $548 million loss while CEO Edward Lampert claimed customers are responding to transformation efforts.
CROSSMARK names Dell veteran as CEO

CROSSMARK, a leading provider of marketing and merchandising services, has appointed Steve Schuckenbrock as CEO.

CROSSMARK’s current CEO, Ben Fischer, will become the company's chairman and will play an integral role in the leadership transition. These leadership changes are effective immediately.

Schuckenbrock has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience at such high-performing, global companies such as Dell, EDS, PepsiCo, Frito-Lay and IBM. He also has deep knowledge in the areas of customer satisfaction/retention and innovation.
Kroger extends comp streak with 5.6% gain

Momentum continues to build at Kroger where the company elevated expectations for its fourth quarter performance after a better than expected showing in the third quarter.
Succession strategy executed at Five Below

Teen retailer Five Below elevated Joel Anderson to the role of CEO in conjunction with the release of third quarter results that showed strong improvement in profitability despite a modest 1.5 percent same store sales increase.
Ulta Beauty looking better with age

With 765 stores now in operation, Ulta Beauty’s unique value proposition continues to resonate strongly with shoppers.

The more recent evidence could be seen in the company’s third quarter results which saw same stores sales accelerate 9.5 percent from a prior year gain of 6.8 percent.
Chicago City Council approves $13 minimum wage

New York - The City Council of Chiago has approved a boost in the minimum wage, gradually raising it to $13 an hour by 2019. The vote was pushed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces a reelection vote in February.

The plan raises Illinois' $8.25 rate – which is $1 higher than the federal rate – in small increments. It will get raised to $10 next year, and then increase by amounts of of 50 cents and $1. City officials estimate more than 400,000 Chicago workers will benefit.
Watch out Starbucks—Martha Stewart to open a cofffe shop

NEW YORK - Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart plans to open a coffee shop in New York.

A spokeswoman for Martha Stewart confirmed Wednesday that plans are in place for the company to open a New York coffee shop. She declined to offer more details, such as when it will open.

The shop will be located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, the Associated Press reported, in the same building where Stewart’s company— Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.—is based holds the company's headquarters.
Target turns stores into mobile game for the holidays—with help from Google

Minneapolis - Target Corp. continues to invest in new mobile and digital investments to drive traffic. The retailer announced it is partnering with Google on an interactive mobile game experience that has a big in-store component. The project is part of Google’s Art, Copy & Code program, which Google describes as partnerships that explore how creativity and technology can work hand in hand to build brands.
Five Brands to Watch in 2015

Brand-building expert and consultant Denise Lee Yohn has released her annual outlook for the year, “Brands to Watch in 2015.”