News

LOS ANGELES — Shopzilla, a leading source of sales and consumer feedback for online merchants and retail advertisers, is expanding its footprint with the launch of its new media solutions and audience targeting division Aisle A in Europe, which will offer marketers access to proprietary shopping intent data and evolving premium retail inventory. 

CORNING, N.Y. — Procter & Gamble group president of global beauty Deborah Henretta has been appointed to Corning's board of directors.

Henretta will also serve on the board's audit and finance committees. She will hold office until Corning`s annual meeting of shareholders in the spring of 2014, at which time she will stand for election to a one-year term. Her appointment brings to 13 the number of directors in the specialty glass and ceramics provider’s board.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel reported net income of $73.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a 23% decrease from $96.2 million for the same period last year. 

The dip in profits reflects, in part, investments the company has made, such as its acquisition of HIT Entertainment, as it positions itself for future growth, according to chairman and CEO Bryan G. Stockton.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot is getting ready to roll out omnichannel initiatives, just in time for the back-to-school season. Beginning July 28, its employees will be equipped with mobile hand-held devices across all stores, which will provide them with tools designed to enhance shoppers’ experience.

Office Depot employees will be able to use the hand-held devices to obtain instant access to extended product information, availability, customer reviews and on-the-spot checkout from anywhere in the store.

Dick's Sporting Goods plans to open its first Field & Stream branded store this August in Cranberry Township, Pa., as part of the company's ongoing strategy to drive growth with speciality store concepts. The company also recently opened its first True Runner speciality store in its hometown of Pittsburgh.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2013 ended March 30, 2013.

The company's net sales increased 9.7% to $434.8 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 compared to $396.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. Same-store sales, calculated on a comparable 13-week period, increased 4.4%.  

Revenues at eBay increased 14% to $3.9 billion during the second quarter ended June 30 and profits adjusted to exclude the impact of a divested business increased to $822 million, or 63 cents a share, compared to $730 million, or 56 cents a share.

New York -- The National Football League has signed an exclusive agreement with Export Now to establish an official online store in China. Similar to its current U.S. e-commerce store, NFLShop.com, the China iteration will sell apparel, equipment and accessories branded with the logos of the NFL and its 32 teams over an e-commerce platform on China's Tmall.com business-to-consumer website.

The new online store is slated to debut in September, in time for the 2013 NFL season.

San Jose Calif. -- Orchard Supply, which sought bankruptcy protection earlier this year, has won court approval of as much as $176.3 million in bankruptcy financing, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The U.S. bankruptcy court approved the loans that will help fund operations as Orchard pursues a sale of at least 60 of its 91 stores. Lowe’s Cos. has the lead offer of $205 million.

Minneapolis -- Retailer promotion activity continued to grow with a 21.6% increase to more than 11.3 billion pages in the first half of 2013, with Walmart leading in retailer activity, according to Kantar Media’s Marx report. Following on Walmart’s heels were Walgreens, Target and Family Dollar.