News

BOSTON, Mass. — Brand Networks, a leading integrated social software solutions and digital marketing services provider, has made additions to its executive team as part of the company’s strategy to accelerate expansion. 

Ace Hardware Corp. experienced sales gains in nearly every department, leading to second-quarter revenue of $1.74 billion, a 9.7% increase from $1.07 billion. Net income increased to $42.3 million, compared to net income of $14.9 million in the same quarter last year.

CEO John Venhuizen said the co-op is plaese with the results so far in 2013. "Sales increased in virtually every department with significant growth at both wholesale and retail from our Discovery Edge, Level 3 merchandising re-sets and branding inititatives," he said. 

ALBANY, N.Y. — Trans World Entertainment has appointed veteran retail executive Martin Hanaka to its board of directors. Hanaka recently was the interim CEO of Guitar Center, Inc. from January 2013 to April 2013.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — July sales at Walgreens experienced an 8% boost. They totaled $6.03 billion, up from $5.59 billion for the same month in fiscal 2012. 

Comparable-store sales increased by 6.3% in July. Calendar day shifts positively impacted total comparable sales by 1.4 percentage points, while generic drug introductions in the last 12 months negatively impacted total comparable sales by 1.8 percentage points.

NEW YORK — The Carlyle Group has appointed former Procter & Gamble executive Susan Arnold as an operating executive in the firm’s Global Consumer & Retail group. Arnold begins her new role at the firm in September. 

As an operating executive, Arnold will provide strategic guidance to Carlyle professionals throughout the investment process, from sourcing to acquisition to exit and advise portfolio company executives on management, operational, branding and growth strategies.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie has its eye on back-to-school shoppers who are stretching budgets at the height of the back-to-school season. It plans on freezing prices throughout a 10-week period on hundreds of products across every category and department across the store. 

NEW ALBANY, Ohio — Hollister Co., a division of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., is partnering with Keds, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, to release an exclusive line that features signature Hollister patterns on Keds-brand sneakers. 

The exclusive Hollister + Keds sneakers will be available only at HollisterCo.com, but will be on display inside Hollister stores so shoppers can get a closer look.

LOS ANGELES — Virtual Piggy initiated a consumer acquisition campaign to start building its subscriber base. Throughout the past four months, Virtual Piggy has added more than 400,000 new accounts most of which are based in the U.S. and some which were recently added in Canada.  

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys “R” Us plans to open more than 100 stores, including new locations, the relocation and conversion of 14 stores to its side-by-side format and 22 new licensed stores. The openings represent the net addition of more than 900,000 sq. ft. of retail space to the company’s store portfolio.

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Halloween may still be a couple of months away, but Jelly Belly Candy Company has unveiled the third edition of its BeanBoozled collection of jelly beans.

The third edition features new flavors such as Stinky Socks and its twin Tutti-Fruitti and Lawn Clippings with its double Lime. BeanBoozled jelly beans come in 20 flavors — 10 “weird and wild flavors” which look exactly like 10 “tasty flavors,” according to the company.