News

Max Performance is the name of new work glove from category leader Midwest Quality Gloves.

The company announced the new product introduction this week and design enhancements to the Max Performance line illustrate just how far the category of work gloves has progressed.

The new product features a suede leather palm with padded palm patches, a spandex back, fourchette finger design and an elastic wrist, all of which are designed to provide a form-fitting, high performance product.

HERSHEY, Pa. and SAN FRANCISCO — The Hershey Company recently partnered with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Calif. to provide students with a hands-on package-design opportunity. Students were asked to create a customized heart box design for Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates to help give the collection a contemporary, fresh look for the 2013 Valentine's Day season.

LOS ANGELES — Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey respondents said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.

Mexico City -- Multiple reports on Wednesday revealed that Wal-Mart Stores’ Mexican arm has been leveled with new allegations concerning tax evasion and money-laundering schemes.

The accusations against Walmex were outlined in a letter by U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, sent Tuesday to Wal-Mart CEO Michael Duke and suggesting that the company “"may have had compliance issues relating not only to bribery, but also to 'questionable financial behavior' including tax evasion and money laundering in Mexico."

Phoenix -- PetSmart reported Wednesday that net income for the second quarter surged 31% to $79 million, from $61 million in the year-ago period.

Sales advanced 9% to $1.6 billion, and same-store sales grew 7.0%.

“Our performance in the second quarter was due to strength across all three merchandising categories, as well as across services,” said Bob Moran, chairman and CEO.
 

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released on Wednesday, decreased slightly in July, marking the first decline since February 2012. 

The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday a loss of $800,000 for the second quarter, tightened from a $6.2 million loss in the prior-year quarter.

Revenue rose 4.6% to $157.8 million compared with $150.9 million, and same-store sales increased 3.9%.
 

Savannah, Ga. -- Despite narrowing its loss in the second quarter from $10 million to $7.9 million this quarter, Citi Trends still missed Wall Street expectations.
 
Revenue edged up 2% to $132.3 million, which also missed analysts’ forecast. Wall Street expected sales of $133.9 million.
 
Same-store sales slipped 4%.
 

By Steven Kramer, [email protected]

Fashion and apparel retailers are using multichannel retailing to augment the in-store experience for brand conscious shoppers. In the process, they’re delivering a compelling customer-centric expression of the retail brand that elevates the destination status of their physical stores.

I’ve written before about the ongoing trend of some of the biggest names in retail downsizing. Now I’m seeing how brands like Target, Wal-Mart and Office Depot are rolling out smaller new store formats in urban environments, and it has me thinking about how this downsizing phenomenon might be even more important than many people realize.