News

DALLAS -- PeopleAnswers has announced a five-year software licensing agreement for The Bon-Ton Stores to use the PeopleAnswers HR-focused business solution to improve its in-store employee sales performance while lowering employee turnover.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. reported a 26% drop in its first-quarter profit as unseasonably cool weather, the payroll tax increase and other economic pressures took a toll on sales.

Target earned $498 million the three months ended May 4, down from $697 million in the year-ago period. Sales rose 1% to $16.71 billion.

Same-store sales fell 0.6%. The number of transactions fell 1.9%.

New York -- Cool weather affected sales at Lowe's for the first quarter ended May 3. 

Lowe’s saw net earnings of $540 million for the quarter, a 2.5% increase over the same period a year ago. Sales for the quarter decreased 0.5% to $13.1 billion from $13.2 billion in the year-ago quarter, while comparable-store sales decreased 0.7%. 

The world’s second largest home improvement retailer reported its results a day after rival Home Depot announced first-quarter sales of $19.1 billion, up 7.4%.

Trademark Property Company has unveiled plans to build Waterside in its home base of Fort Worth, Texas; the 63-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development is slated to open the first phase in spring 2015.

DALLAS — Zale Corporation, a specialty retailer of diamond and other jewelry products, has elected former Signet CEO Terry Burman as a director and as chairman of the board. John B. Lowe Jr., who has served as chairman for the past five years, will remain on the board.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has appointed Starbucks executive Michelle Gass to the newly created position of chief customer officer. She will report directly to Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO Kevin Mansell.

Gass, who joins Kohl’s on June 17, will have leadership responsibility for Kohl’s branding across all channels. She will oversee all marketing efforts, the company’s high growth e-commerce business on Kohls.com and the customer’s total omnichannel experience.

Cool weather affected sales at Lowe's for the first quarter ended May 3. 

Lowe’s saw net earnings of $540 million for the quarter, a 2.5% increase over the same period a year ago. Sales for the quarter decreased 0.5% to $13.1 billion from $13.2 billion in the year-ago quarter, while comparable-store sales decreased 0.7%. 

The world’s second largest home improvement retailer reported its results a day after rival Home Depot announced first-quarter sales of $19.1 billion, up 7.4%.

ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch is providing 2,156 cases of emergency drinking water — or 51,744 cans — for use by relief workers and residents affected by the tornado in Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs.

A truck loaded with emergency drinking water left Cartersville, Ga., and will be arriving in the region this week. Anheuser-Busch is working with the American Red Cross to get the water where it's most needed. Additionally, the company has made a $25,000 donation to the Red Cross to assist in their relief efforts.

SHANGHAI — A day after Hershey announced plans to launch a new brand in China — marking the first time the company launches a new brand outside the U.S in its 120-year history — the company announced plans to open its Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has appointed Dan Bartlett, former senior counselor to George W. Bush, as its EVP of corporate affairs. Bartlett was most recently president and CEO of the U.S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, nonprofits and associations in 52 countries.