News

Richmond Hill, Ont. -- Interactive mobile advertising technology provider iSign Media Corp. has developed the Smart Player Kit. The solution is a form of advertising technology that combines digital signage with mobile messaging.

Through this technology, restaurants can now send real-time discounts and offers to customers’ mobile phones while they’re in close proximity or inside the restaurant ready to make a purchase.

New York -- Chain Store Age's Retail Store of the Year design competition has added a new category for its 2014 awards: in-store digital innovation. Retailers, design firms, vendors and suppliers are all eligible to submit entries.

The windows of Macy’s Herald Square flagship are a holiday delight. The six windows on the Broadway side of the store — with themes of Dream, Giving & Sharing, Joy, Beauty, Magic and Believe — tell the story of a young boy’s dream on Christmas Eve, where he travels to a magical crystal forest complete with fairies and sparkling, animated snow.

Deerfield Park, Ill. – Walgreen Co. reported a healthy 68% surge in net earnings during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to $695 million from $413 million in the same period a year earlier.

Net sales rose about 6%, to $18.3 billion from $17.3 billion, while same-store sales grew 5.4%.

Indianapolis -- Finish Line reported net earnings of $1.59 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a return to profitability after reporting a net loss of $809,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Consolidated net sales were $364.5 million, up about 23% from $296.6 million and ahead of the $353 million projected by Wall Street.

Scaumburg, Ill. - Overall in-store satisfaction has grown 23% in the last six years. Meanwhile, the annual Motorola Solutions Holiday Shopping study shows that satisfaction with the checkout process and the availability of store associates has increased 32% and 23% respectively since 2008.

Yonkers, N.Y. – Unsurprisingly, crowds and long lines are the single biggest consumer dread for the holiday season. According to a new Consumer Reports poll, 61% of consumers dread crowds and long lines, followed by bad traffic (54%).

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company has been added to the Nasdaq -100 Index, effective with the market open on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Shares of TSCO will also be included in the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (Nasdaq: QQQ).

"We are proud to be joining this elite group of public companies traded on the Nasdaq exchange," said Anthony Crudele, executive VP and CFO. "Being added to the Nasdaq-100 Index is a reflection of Tractor Supply Company's significant growth and its stock performance.”

Akron, Ohio – Kay Jewelers has launched a "Merry Match" sweepstakes on its Facebook page and for Twitter pages from Dec. 20-Dec. 24.

New York -- The Jones Group has accepted a buyout offer of $15 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $1.2 billion, from private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Upon completion of the deal, Jones, whose brands include Nine West, Anne Klein and Easy Spirit, will become a privately held company.