News

New York City – E-commerce sales in the U.S. for the November and December holiday shopping season will rise 16.8% to $46.7 billion in 2011, up from $39.9 billion last year and representing a pace five times faster than total retail industry growth, according to eMarketer.

That means online sales growth will reach double digits for the third consecutive year, even though the economy remains shaky and consumers are keeping tight budgets.

New York City -- Saks Fifth Avenue announced the availability of its shopping application for the iPad. The free app, available worldwide from the Apple App Store, is an entirely shoppable app, and customers can create wishlists that can be shared through email, Facebook, and/or Twitter.

New York City -- Mattress retailer Mattress Firm Holding Corp. expects to raise about $100 million in an initial public offering to pay down its debt, the Associated Press reported.

The company is offering 5.6 million shares, and expects them to price from $17 to $19 each. After expenses the company anticipates net proceeds of about $90 million.

Most of the proceeds will go toward repaying $84.4 million in debt outstanding under a loan.

Mattress Firm and its franchisees run 757 stores in 25 states.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that it will donate $1 million to support child hunger programs through feeding America as part of its Holiday Taste of Sam's Club event Nov. 18 to 20.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has announced that Office Depot stores in Plano, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tallahassee, Fla. won the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains in the 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition. The Plano and Raleigh stores were also the only retailers in the overall top ten list, according to the company.

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based Home Depot's wind-and-storm aided sales effort in the third-quarter presented several category highlights, according to EVP merchandising Craig Menear.

The company's strong third-quarter performance, which included a 13% net earnings increase and comp-store sales of positive 4.2%, included strength "in the core of the store" and growth in average ticket and transactions.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.’s profit increased a better-than-expected 3.7% in the third quarter to $555 million, up from $535 a year earlier. The retailer’s performance was helped by solid spending and improvement in its credit card business.

Revenue rose 5.4% to $16.05 billion. Same-store sales were up 4.3% in the quarter.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Discount grocer Bottom Dollar Food is hiring more than 800 associates over the next several months to begin to prepare for store openings next year, the company announced Wednesday.

"We look forward to expanding in Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, next year, and bringing new jobs to these areas," stated Bottom Dollar Food president Meg Ham. Bottom Dollar Food is expected to open 14 stores in early 2012.