News

BENTON HARBOR — Whirlpool Corp. is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a number of local events and recognition of employees throughout the world.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Body Central Corp., which operates under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, reported Friday that net income for the third quarter more than doubled to $2.8 million, from $1.3 million a year earlier.

Total revenue rose 18% to $67.1 million, compared with $56.9 million a year ago. Results were boosted by a 21.2% increase in store sales. Same-store sales rose 8.2%.

The company opened five new stores during the third quarter and is on track to open 33 new stores in 2011.
 

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s announced that it has named Eric Wiseman, president and CEO of apparel manufacturer VF Corp., to its board of directors. Wiseman will serve on the board’s compensation and governance committees. 

Wiseman has been CEO of VF Corp., whose brands include The North Face, Timberland, Vans and Wrangler, since January 2008. Before being named CEO, Wiseman served as president and chief operating officer from 2006 to 2007, responsible for VF’s global business and day-to-day operations.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- A Friday report in Advertising Age said that Kohl’s Corp. has added $30 million to its fourth quarter marketing spend in order to pad its efforts to garner holiday shopping dollars.

In 2010, the retailer spent $113 million on measured media in the fourth quarter, according to the report, and will spend about $143 million this year. Annually, Kohl’s spends $340 million.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has urged the Senate to approve legislation that would help create jobs by making it quicker for citizens of Brazil, China and India to obtain visas needed to travel to the United States on business or to shop in U.S. stores.

ST. LOUIS — Ralcorp Holdings announced that Terence Block will serve as president and COO of Post Holdings Inc., effective January 1, 2012 . Block will also join the board of directors of Post Holdings following completion of the separation of the Ralcorp and Post cereal business.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R'Us will be the exclusive retailer of an assortment of toys inspired by Happy Feet 2, RetailingToday.com learned Friday.

Toys available only at Toys"R"Us include talking plush dolls from Thinkway Toys. The 12-inch stuffed birds say phrases from the film when their left wings are pressed. Characters, which are sold separately include Erik, Ramon, Sven and Atticus.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings Thursday expressed support for S. 1832, the Marketplace Equity Act, introduced by U.S. Sens. Enzi, Alexander and Durbin. The legislation will level the sales tax collection playing field for local businesses by granting the states authority to enforce existing laws and require out-of-state, online-only retailers to collect and remit sales taxes on sales made to state residents.