News

Los Angeles -- SkuLoop, a retail solution provider offering a suite of tools that allows retailers and brands to build their own digital promotions, announced that veteran fashion executive Trent MacLean has joined its board of advisors. He previously served as president and COO of 7 for all Mankind and Paige Denim, and prior to that as president of Liz Claiborne Casual Sportswear and president of Liz Claiborne Canada.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said its same-store sales in January fell 4.6% in the wake of its decision to stop doing business with a major  pharmacy benefits manager. A weak flu season also figured into its results.

Walgreen stopped filling prescriptions for patients in the Express Scripts network on December 31, 2011. Pharmacy same-store sales were down 7.9% in January.
 

Mobile marketing has been the “next big thing” long enough that it almost seems like old news. Mobile advertising is projected to reach $55 billion in 2012, and has the distinction of being the fastest medium to reach $1 billion in spending; it took only five years, versus 16 years for the Internet to hit that level of investment.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — January sales at Costco increased 11% to $7 billion with U.S. same-stores sales powering ahead by 8% excluding fuel, the company reported Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS— Target appears to have salvaged its fourth-quarter sales results with a 4.3% same-store sales increase in January to offset a disappointing 1.6% increase in December and a 1.8% increase in November.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The company announced the appointment Thursday and said Edward would served as EVP U.S. retail merchandising reporting to Demos Parneros, president of U.S. retail for Staples. 

CINCINNATI — Macy’s Inc. announced that Peter Sachse, the company's chief marketing officer and chairman of Macys.com, will succeed Ron Klein as chief stores officer, effective Feb. 13. Klein will retire from Macy's effective March 31, after 36 years with the company. 

WASHINGTON — Consumers are set to put out all the stops this Valentine’s Day, with the average person shelling out $126.03, up 8.5% over last year, according to NRF’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGinsight. Total spending is expected to reach $17.6 billion.

NEW YORK — The nation’s apparel retailers reported mixed results for January as shoppers remain cautious about spending in the uncertain economy.

“It was as tough month as retailers battled holiday hangover, lack of incentive to shop and mild winter that killed outerwear clearance," said Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics Inc., in a Reuters report.

As the first month of the year, January accounts for only 20% November-January sales, and 7% of annual sales, according to RetailMetrics.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co. continued its hot streak with a fourth quarter sales increase in excess of 20%.

Net sales hit $1.24 billion for the company in the 14 weeks ended Dec. 31., up 20.1% from the 13-week period a year ago. For the full year, sales increased 16.3% to $4.23 billion.

Net income was up 40.4% to $70.5 million  for the quarter, and up 32.6% to $222.7 million for the year.