News

Norwalk, Conn. -- A report released Wednesday by GE Capital found that the majority of retail CFOs are fairly optimistic about their industry, even though the outlook for the economy has soured.

According to the GE Capital Middle-Market CFO Survey, 58% of retail CFOs believe their revenues will increase in 2011. However, that has dropped from 80% in the first quarter. Less than half – 42% -- expect to increase capital expenditures, up from 38% in the first quarter.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that through Nov. 5, for every wish list created in-store or online it will donate $1 in Toys"R"Us gift card, up to $50,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys"R"Us Inc., has provided the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a $275,000 grant.

CHICAGO — The Network of Executive Women has elected five new members at large to its board of directors.

New board members are Mike Byron, president of supplier diversity for Supervalu; Sarah Chartrand, SVP diversity, talent management and organizational development for Ahold USA; Marnette Perry, SVP Kroger; Suzanne Sears, VP global market development at Kimberly-Clark; and Karen Stuckey, SVP merchandising and general merchandise manager of the home division for Walmart Stores.

In past columns, I have talked about restaurant group think and the tendency of dining concepts to overfill a niche. I’m becoming concerned that athletic apparel is in danger of the same thing. We now have three big players in this space: Lululemon, Lucy, and, more recently, Gap’s new Athleta concept. It seems that each has successfully carved out a lucrative niche in the world of contemporary athletic apparel, but it feels to me like it may be the latest retail “trend-du-jour.”

LOS GATOS, Calif. — FoodLink, an online network for fresh food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers, on Tuesday announced its status as a certified partner to Giant Eagle. With 228 supermarket locations, Giant Eagle is one of the largest produce buyers in the country, FoodLink stated.

By Martin Walker and Martin Walker, A.T. Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council

The fastest-growing age group worldwide in this century will be people over the age of 60. What must retailers and manufacturers know to adapt to this older consumer group? In the first-ever international survey of consumers over the age of 60, A.T. Kearney interviewed 3,000 people in 23 countries to find out what mature consumers want. The short answer: prices and labels they can read, packaging they can open, and more places to sit down in stores.

BILLERICA, Mass. and MINNEAPOLIS — Customers looking to get their hands on the new iPhone 4S can trade in their old versions for special trade-in values at more than 1,400 Target stores nationwide. Through a partnership with NextWorth, Target is offering customers locked in trade-in values for old iPhones that can be redeemed when they pick up their new iPhone 4S starting Oct. 14. 

According to NextWorth, old iPhones need only be in good working order to qualify for the values quoted below:

• iPhone 4 (16GB & 32GB): $200

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Two years of declining same-store sales at Walmart are poised to end next month when the retailer reports third quarter results that reflect positive momentum from a wide range of initiatives put in place during the past 12 months, judging from comments made by senior executives during an all day meeting with analysts on Wednesday.