Consumers Shopped Cautiously in April
New York City (May 8, 2008) Apparel chains struggled through another dismal month in April, but discounters fared well as consumers searched for bargains to buy necessities.

Chains selling must-have items like food and milk at a discount -- such as Wal-Mart Stores and Costco Wholesale -- were standouts. Read More

Calif. Town Approves Big-Box Ban
Dublin, Calif. (May 8, 2008) Another city in Northern California has voted to prohibit the construction of superstores within its city limits, according to the Contra Costa Times.

The Dublin City Council voted 4-1 to ban general retail establishments larger than 170,000 sq. ft. that devote more than 10% of floor space to nontaxable grocery items. Membership stores, such as Costco, are exempt, the report said. Read More

Winn-Dixie Introduces 'Stretch Your Check' Program
Jacksonville, Fla. (May 8, 2008) Winn-Dixie Stores has launched a "Stretch Your Check" program to help customers stretch their grocery dollars as the federal government begins issuing economic stimulus checks.

Through the "Stretch Your Check" program, the grocer will feature a specially marked item or offer each week beginning with a $5 off coupon in the May 14 circular. Winn-Dixie will also cash the economic stimulus checks for customers.

Best Buy Puts $2.1B into Cell-Phone Retailer
London (May 8, 2008) Best Buy Co. is paying $2.1 billion for a 50% stake in a European cell-phone retailer, the companies announced on Thursday.

The Carphone Warehouse will place its 2,400 U.S. and European stores in the new joint venture. Read More

Papa John's Hits Web-Ordering Milestone
Louisville, Ky. (May 8, 2008) Papa John's has passed the $1 billion mark in Internet pizza sales. The company said Internet orders have climbed more than 50% a year since the service started seven years ago. The hottest markets for Papa John's Internet orders are the Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C., areas.

A company official said while it took seven years to reach that first billion-dollar plateau, forecasts indicate it will take fewer than three years to hit the next billion.

Trans World CEO Withdraws Offer to Buy Company
Albany, NY (May 7, 2008) Trans World Entertainment Corp. chairman and CEO Robert J. Higgins has withdrawn his proposal to buy out other shareholders and take the retailer private. The proposal was first announced in November 2007.

Higgins told a special committee of the board of directors that "continuing poor credit market conditions have substantially increased the costs and burdens of the debt financing" needed to acquire the company, according to a statement.

Bag'n Baggage Looks for Buyer
Dallas (May 7, 2008) Bag'n Baggage filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on Sunday in Texas's Northern U.S. District Court in Dallas. It has retained Clear Thinking Group to help find a buyer for the company.

"We had some significant interest just prior to the bankruptcy petition being filed, and believe that we will have a buyer finalized in the next couple of weeks," said Patrick Sullivan, CEO of Bag'n Baggage, which currently operates 33 stores in 10 states. Read More

Sam's Club Offers Membership Bonus, Free Stimulus Check Cashing
Bentonville, Ark. (May 7, 2008) Sam's Club on Wednesday said it will offer annual memberships for non-members and a $40 gift card for existing members with the purchase of select merchandise in its 593 clubs nationwide. In addition, Sam's Club will also cash economic stimulus checks for members at no charge.

The Sam's Club economic stimulus bonus membership and $40 gift card are available with the purchase of any one of a dozen certain items, beginning May 18 through May 31. Some of the featured items include BF Goodrich Tires, a Brighton Patio dining set, Serta Mattresses, a choice between two Samsung LCD TV models, a Blu-ray home theater system, a Nikon digital camera and other electronics. Read More

Report: Wal-Mart Selects 20 Capitols for Energy Audits
Bentonville, Ark. (May 7, 2008) Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with 19 states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitol buildings, according to the Associated Press.

Wal-Mart will pay engineering experts to perform energy audits at the capitols and recommend ways to save energy, lower electricity costs and reduce greenhouse emissions, company officials told state leaders Tuesday at the National Governors Association's State Summit on Clean Power and Efficiency. Read More

Report: Year-Over-Year Sales Up in Latest Week
Chicago (May 7, 2008) ShopperTrak RCT Corp.'s National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE) reported that retail sales for the week ending May 3 increased 2.3% as compared to the same period last year. This increase represents the third consecutive year-over-year increase retailers have experienced as consumers continue to ramp up spending as Mother's Day weekend approaches.

On a week-over-week comparison, shoppers seemed indifferent about the ever-increasing rise in gasoline prices, as sales for the week ending May 3 increased a steady 5.0% as compared to the previous week ending April 26, the report said. But ShopperTrak warns this spending trend might not continue following Mother's Day weekend. Read More

OfficeMax Names Lead Director
Naperville, Ill. (May 6, 2008) OfficeMax has appointed Rakesh Gangwal as chair of the committee of outside directors and lead independent director. Gangwal replaces Gary Michael, who did not stand for re-election in 2008. Gangwal will continue to serve on the executive compensation committee and the governance and nominating committee.

Since June 2003, Gangwal has served as chairman, president and CEO of Worldspan Technologies, a provider of travel technology and information services to the travel and transportation industry.

Charming Shoppes' Settlement Offer Rejected
Bensalem, Pa. (May 6, 2008) Charming Shoppes has made a proposal to settle the proxy contest related to the company's 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. Crescendo Partners and Myca Partners have rejected this settlement offer, which included an offer of a seat on the Charming Shoppes' board to Michael Appel, one of the committee's director nominees.

The company also announced that it intends to appoint Richard Bennet, III, former vice chairman of The May Department Stores, and Michael Goldstein, former chairman and CEO of Toys "R" Us, to the board promptly following the May 8 annual meeting of shareholders.

Adidas Wins $305 Million for Trademark Violation
Topeka, Kan. (May 6, 2008) Adidas has won a $305 million award from a federal jury for trademark violation of its three-stripe design by a Kansas shoe company, according to the Associated Press.

Collective Brands Inc., which operates Payless and Stride Rite shoe store chains, called the award "excessive and unjustified" on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for Germany's Adidas AG said the company was happy with the verdict. Read More

Albertsons to Sell 72 C-Stores
Denver (May 6, 2008) Valero Energy Corp. has agreed to buy 72 convenience stores and fueling stations from Albertsons LLC, according to the Denver Business Journal.

The retail gasoline stations and stores are located in Colorado, Texas, Arizona and Louisiana, the report said, with the bulk concentrated in the Denver area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La., and Phoenix markets. Read More

Target Lowers Prescription Costs
Minneapolis (May 6, 2008) Target announced new pricing plans for its prescription and over-the-counter drug offerings. In the announcement, the company said that these new plans were implemented in order to stay competitive with Wal-Mart, which recently reported expansion of its own generic drug program.

"We understand the economic challenges our guests are facing and remain committed, as always, to meeting their health and wellness needs at a great value," said Kathee Tesija, executive VP, merchandising. Read More

Wal-Mart Opens First 'Hispanic Community' Store
Garland, Texas (May 6, 2008) Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s original Hypermart USA, the precursor to its Supercenter concept, closed on Tuesday, according to the Dallas Morning News. Wal-Mart is replacing the historic store on Garland Avenue with a new location it's calling its first "Hispanic community" store, the report said.

With an estimated 14% of its U.S. shoppers being Latino, Wal-Mart in recent years has been tailoring stores, such as its I-30 and Cockrell Hill location in Dallas, to meet the needs of Hispanic families, the report said. It has added specialty bakery items, expanded varieties of chile peppers, and printed store signs and advertising circulars in Spanish. Read More

Nike and Finish Line Collaborate on Concept Store
New York City (May 6, 2008) Nike and The Finish Line on Tuesday said they opened a concept store called Finish Line Ltd. focused on young athletes and customer service.

The concept store is at the Chandler Fashion Center near Phoenix. Read More

Linens 'n Things to Honor Gift Cards
Clifton, N.J. (May 6, 2008) Linens Holding Co. on Monday said it will continue to honor gift cards in all of its stores. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, said the court approved the retailer's petition to allow its customers to continue to be able to redeem gift cards.

Linens 'n Things rebates and wedding registries will also remain available.

Amazon Suing N.Y. State Over Sales Tax Law
Seattle (May 5, 2008) Amazon.com has sued the state of New York, challenging a new statute requiring Internet retailers based elsewhere to collect New York sales taxes, according to a Reuters report.

Amazon said in a complaint filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on April 25 that the new law, passed by the state legislature in early April, was unconstitutional, vague and overly broad. Read More

Report: Food Retailers Performed Well in 2007
Las Vegas (May 5, 2008) Supermarket industry sales increased 4.6% in 2007, and same-store sales rose 4.2%, the highest mark for this performance measure in more than a decade, according to the Food Retailing Industry Speaks: Annual State of the Industry Review 2007 released on Monday by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

The gains, however, were largely offset by the 4.2% food-at-home inflation rate last year, the report said. Unlike previous years, mid-sized food retailers posted the highest growth figures with overall sales increasing 7.4% and same-store sales 6.5%. The increases among independent retailers and the largest chains were closer to the industry medians. Read More

Target Sells Stake in Credit-Card Receivables
Minneapolis (May 5, 2008) Target said it is selling an interest in its credit-card receivables business to JPMorgan Chase for about $3.6 billion. The retailer said the interest represents about 47% of the principal amount of Target's outstanding receivables.

The deal is expected to close before the end of the month. Read More

Duckwall-ALCO Cuts 27 Staffers
Abilene, Kan. (May 5, 2008) Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc. on Monday said it will cut 27 staffers at its headquarters in a streamlining move. The cuts make up more than 10% of its Abilene, Kan.-based headquarters staff.

In April, the company said it would cut four executive positions to save money. The corporate labor cost reductions to date are expected to save $2.5 million annually. Read More

Wal-Mart Expands Low-Priced Drug Program
Bentonville, Ark. (May 5, 2008) Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it will offer 90-day prescriptions for $10 and lower the prices of more than 1,000 over-the-counter medications to $4 or less.

The company said the offerings are the third phase of its $4 prescription program. Read More

Toys "R" Us 4Q earnings up 39.3%
Wayne, N.J. (May 5, 2008) Toys "R" Us reported a 39.3% increase in net earnings to $312 million for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 2, up from $224 million for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 3, 2007. Net sales reached $5.827 billion for the 2007 fourth quarter, up 2.6% from $5.679 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

For the year ended Feb. 2, the company reported a 40.4% increase in net earnings to $153 million, up from $109 million for the year ended Feb. 3, 2007. Read More

Christopher & Banks Names New Board Member
Minneapolis (May 5, 2008) Christopher & Banks Corp. said that Martin Bassett has been named to the board of directors, effective May 20.

The election of Bassett increases the total number of board seats to eight and the number of independent directors to seven, the company said. Read More

Men's Wearhouse Names CMO for K&G
Houston (May 5, 2008) Men's Wearhouse announced that Mary Beth Blake has been named chief merchandising officer for K&G Fashion Superstore, the company's discount-superstore concept.

Blake joins the company from Macy's Midwest Division, where she was the senior VP, general merchandise manager for men's and children's. She began her career in merchandising in 1989 with May Department Stores, Famous Barr Division, in St. Louis.

Aeropostale Expands in Puerto Rico
New York City (May 5, 2008) Aeropostale announced plans to roll out stores in Puerto Rico. The opening of its first Puerto Rico store will be at the Plaza Carolina in Carolina, the company said.

The remainder of the initial roll out will occur in the upcoming weeks at Plaza Las Americas in San Juan, and in the latter part of the year, at The Prime Outlet Puerto Rico in Barcelonesa. Read More

Books-A-Million to Add Two New Stores
Birmingham, Ala. (May 2, 2008) Books-A-Million is expanding its breadth with the addition of two new stores.

The 200-store chain will open one location in Cleveland. The store, which is the sixth location in the city, will be part of the Westgate Shopping Center. Read More

Hastings Entertainment Names New Executive
Amarillo , Texas (May 2, 2008) Multimedia retailer Hastings Entertainment has named Sue Dasse as VP of Stores, effective May 19.

Most recently, Dasse served VP of store operations for Catherines Plus Sizes, for Charming Shoppes. Prior to that, Dasse was senior VP of stores for Borders Specialty Retail for Borders Group, Inc. She is also the former VP of store operations at Waldenbooks.

Apple Rocks DVD Sales
Cuppertino, Calif. (May 2, 2008) Apple announced that new movie releases are available to download from its iTunes store (www.itunes.com) the same day as the DVD is released.

Movies purchased at iTunes can be downloaded and viewed on a variety of media including Apple's iPod and iPhone, as well as on any Mac, PC or widescreen TV with Apple TV. Read More

April Showers Sales on Walgreens
Deerfield, Ill. (May 2, 2008) Sales were up 7.9% in April 2008 over the same month a year ago at Walgreens stores, rising to $4.84 billion vs. $4.49 billion. Same-store sales were up 1.6% at the chain, although front-end same-store sales declined 3.1% for the month.

However, April sales were negatively impacted by the earlier Easter celebration in 2008, which occurred in March this year and April last year. For the two-month period, Walgreens' sales increased 9.2% over March/April in 2007, and same-store sales rose 3.0% with front-end same-store sales up 4.0% in 2008. Read More

Harris Teeter Sales and Profits Rise
Charlotte, N.C. (May 2, 2008) Regional supermarket chain Harris Teeter, with 169 stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, reported that sales rose 10.9% to $893.1 million in the second quarter of its current fiscal year compared to sales of $805.6 million in the same quarter of 2007.

For the first half of the 2008 fiscal year, Harris Teeter sales were up 11.7% over the first half of last year, growing to $1.79 billion from $1.60 billion in 2007. Read More

Rite Aid Improves POS to Aid Visually-Impaired
Camp Hill, Pa. (May 2, 2008) Rite Aid announced Thursday that it has begun an initiative to aid customers with visual impairments and other disabilities. Changes are being implemented at the company Web site as well as in stores.

The retailer's Web site has been enhanced to facilitate ease of use and to comply with guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium. The guidelines are intended to benefit blind computer users who rely on a screen reader or magnification technology and who use a keyboard rather than a mouse. Read More

Cabela's Sales Up 15.9%
Sidney, Neb. (May 2, 2008) Sporting enthusiasts are still shopping-at least at recreation retailer Cabela's. Total revenue in the first quarter of Cabela's 2008 fiscal year was 15.9% above the same period last year, $535.5 million vs. $462.1 million in fiscal 2007.

However, same-store sales dipped 8.4% and revenue from direct sales dropped 0.6% to $236.5 million. Total store revenue was up 37.7% to $254.4 million and revenue from financial services grew 13.9%  to $40.7 million. Read More

Safeway Supports Economic Stimulus
Pleasanton, Calif. (May 2, 2008) Safeway jumped on the bandwagon to aid consumers and encourage its customers to bring their government rebate checks to a Safeway store.

From May 14 to July 19, Safeway customers will be able to cash stimulus checks for free and receive a 10% discount on purchases made within 48 hours. The offer is good at all Safeway and Safeway-owned stores, including Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Dominick's, Genuardi's and Pak 'n Save.

Linens 'n Things Throws In the Towel
Clifton, N.J. (May 2, 2008) Linens 'n Things filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday. According to Reuters, the home- goods retailer will close 120 underperforming stores.

Reportedly, Linens 'n Things will continue to operate its remaining stores without interruption. It has obtained $700 million in financing from GE Capital to purchase merchandise through the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Read More

Starbucks to Slash U.S. Store Openings
Los Angeles (May 1, 2008) Starbucks Corp. said on Wednesday it would slash store openings through 2011 as it adjusts to slower U.S. growth and turns its focus to expanding newer international markets, according to a Reuters report.

The company, which warned last week of the worst economic environment in its history, blamed the domestic housing crisis for a significant quarter-over-quarter deterioration in U.S. customer traffic and said it saw early signs of a potential traffic slowdown in the United Kingdom, which may be related to economic problems there, the report said. Read More

Disney Reclaims Disney Stores from Children's Place
Burbank, Calif. (May 1, 2008) Walt Disney Co. said Thursday it has taken over the Disney Store chain in North America from Children's Place Retail Stores, and will close about 98 stores in the United States and two in Canada.

Specific financial terms weren't disclosed, but Children's Place said it will cost the company $50 million to exit the operations, at the bottom of its estimated range of $50 million to $100 million. Read More

Overstock.com to Sell Internationally
Salt Lake City (May 1, 2008) Overstock.com said it would offer its merchandise for sale to consumers outside of the United States.

New York City-based technology provider E4X will power Overstock.com's international e-commerce expansion with its integrated FiftyOne Global e-commerce solution.

Kohl's to Plan Inventory Conservatively, Open Fewer Stores
Menomonee Falls, Wisc. (May 1, 2008) Kohl's Inc. on Wednesday said it is planning inventory levels and expenses cautiously for 2008, according to the Associated Press.

The company has cut back on spending amid a weakening economy. Read More

Whitehall Jewelers CEO to Retire
Chicago (May 1, 2008) Whitehall Jewelers Holdings said that its chairman of the board and CEO Edward Dayoob will retire from his post as CEO. Dayoob will remain actively involved as the chairman of the board and as a consultant to the company advising on merchandising and operations strategy, the company said.

President and COO Michael Don will assume the role of CEO of Whitehall Jewelers, effective April 30. No other changes in the company's management team are planned.