News Briefs

Wegmans Food Markets doesn’t want its store employees to miss an upcoming celestial event.  

The grocer will close 46 of its stores in upstate New York and two in Pennsylvania on Monday, April 8, to allow employees an opportunity to view the total solar eclipse.  The stores, which are located in the path of the eclipse, will close for 30 minutes. 

All services, including pharmacy and Meals2Go pickup, will be unavailable during the 30-minute closure.

"The opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse comes once in a lifetime, and we don't want our employees to miss out,” said Wegmans regional manager Patrick Bourcy, according to WSTM. “We appreciate all that our employees do to help our customers prepare for and enjoy events like this, and in return, we welcome the opportunity to make this a celebratory and memorable occasion for them."

Based in Rochester, N.Y., Wegmans operates 111 stores located along the East Coast.

Martha Stewart believes women don’t have to sacrifice style while working in the garden.

Tractor Supply Company, the country’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, is launching the Martha Stewart Garden Apparel Line in collaboration with Martha Stewart, Marquee Brands and French Dressing Jeans Inc. The line will initially launch exclusively at Tractor Supply beginning the week of March 25 in 50 select stores and online.

The collection, which is launching with eight clothing items, is priced from $24.99 to $69.99. Debut pieces include a puffer vest, cargo convertible pants, a garden work shirt and more. 

“This new line of apparel reflects my passion for gardening and outdoor work, so I am thrilled to share it with consumers,” said Stewart. “With creativity and hard work at the core of gardening, this collection embraces artistry and functionality, bringing ease to those who strive to keep a healthy, beautiful garden.”

In a release, Tractor Supply noted that women’s apparel continues to be an important product category for the company, especially when it comes to gardening.

“This launch with Martha Stewart is the perfect way for us to bring fashion and function to our gardening customers, with great new styles and products our customers can’t get anywhere else.” said Seth Estep, chief merchandising officer at Tractor Supply Company. 

As of Dec. 30, 2023, Tractor Supply operated 2,216 namesake stores in 49 states, along with 198 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states.

Marquee Brands has an extensive portfolio of brands including Martha Stewart, The BCBG Group, Ben Sherman, Dakine, Sur La Table, Body Glove, Emeril Lagasse, Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in a Pod and Bruno Magli.  

Numerator has gathered some interesting demographic and psychographic highlights about the average Amazon shopper.

In 2023, 81% of U.S. households shopped Amazon at least once. The average Amazon shopper spent $2,662 at the retailer last year, making 72 purchases, according to the market research firm. This equals out to almost $37 per purchase. 

Other insights from the Numerator report are below.

•Amazon saw 99% repeat rate for customers.

•Amazon shoppers are more likely to be Gen X and millennials compared to all U.S. shoppers.

•Nearly half (48%) of Amazon shoppers are in the middle-income range ($40-80k), while 28% fall into the high income bracket ($80k+).

•Amazon shoppers are slightly more likely to be impulse buyers compared to all U.S. consumers.

•Amazon shoppers are mostly female (75% of Amazon shoppers) and while (67% of Amazon shoppers.)

•Sixty-eight percent of Amazon shoppers are homeowners, and 38% live in suburban areas

To view Numerator’s Amazon Retailer Snapshot, click here. 

Target Corp.’s salaried employees can expect a bigger bonus this year.

The company will double the annual bonus payout is gives to salaried employees in late March. The increased payout was first reported by Bloomberg. 

In a statement to Chain Store Age, Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said that, similar to many companies, Target offers a bonus plan for select employees, including leaders in its stores and supply chain operations, that is designed to reward their performance in driving its results. 

"The bonus structure is informed by goals set at the beginning of the fiscal year, and includes sales performance and profit outcomes,” he said. “Based on Target’s performance in 2023, including the $2B in additional profit growth our team delivered that exceeded the goals we set at the beginning of the year, we’re rewarding our team accordingly.”

Target’s salaried employees receive an annual bonus that is based on the company’s performance and the eligible amount set as part of their compensation, reported CNBC. The retailer will pay 100% of employees’ eligible annual bonus amounts for the most recent fiscal year, an increase from 50% in the prior year, the report said.

As of Feb. 3, Target employed about 415,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal team members, according to a regulatory filing. The majority of the company’s employees are not salaried. 

Trader Joe’s continues to expand its footprint across the United States.

The grocery store chain has listed 16 upcoming locations on the announcements section of its website. Five of the sites are in California. 

Trader Joe’s did not provide opening dates for any of the listed stores. But it does say on its website that "Our crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2024."  

Earlier this month, the grocer opened a new store in Everett, Wash. 

Here is the list of Trader Joe’s upcoming locations.

• Reno, Nev.;
• Chandler, Ariz.;
• Milwaukie, Ore.;
• Salt Lake City, Utah;
• Coeur d’Alene, Idaho;
• Clearwater, Fla.; 
• Raleigh, N.C.; 
• Leesburg, Va.; 
• Middletown, N.J.; 
• Mt. Pleasant (Isle of Palms) S.C.;
• Sugar Land, Texas; West Springfield, Va.; 
• South Pasadena, Calif.; 
• Santa Clarita, Calif.; 
• Sherman Oaks, Calif.; 
• Santee, Calif.; and
• Poway, Calif.

Trader Joe’s operates more than 500 stores across 42 states and Washington, D.C.

Musician instrument retailer Guitar Center has appointed a new chief merchandising and marketing officer.

Kristin Shane will fill the role effective immediately, where she will be responsible for product, promotions, visual merchandising, omni-channel experience and activations. 

Shane joins Guitar Center from PetSmart, where she served as senior VP and chief merchandising officer for two years. Earlier in her career, from 2005 to 2016, where her last role was VP and merchandise manager for the beauty and personal care business.

“As a visionary leader and a world-class merchant, we are thrilled to welcome Kristin Shane to our executive team,” said Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto, who was appointed to the position last October. “Kristin’s impressive track record of market and sales growth, coupled with her nearly 20 years of retail expertise in the specialty product market, will be instrumental in activating Guitar Center’s new strategic direction and creating a more customer-centric experience.” 

Guitar Center operates more than 300 stores across the U.S., as well as having a strong omnichannel presence. Guitar Center’s sister brands include Music & Arts, which operates more than 250 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, and Musician’s Friend, a leading direct marketer of musical instruments.

“Guitar Center stands at the forefront of the musical instrument retail industry, and I am humbled  to be part of its next chapter," said Shane. "Together, we will continue to build on the company's legacy, setting a new course to revolutionize the end-to-end customer experience. Leveraging my background in transforming retail spaces and driving significant market growth, I am eager to implement forward-thinking strategies that not only drive business results but also enrich our customer journey.”