North America – Page 20
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News
Toys R Us acquires the FAO Schwarz toy stores
The world’s largest toy specialist Toys R Us has acquired the FAO Schwarz toy stores for an undisclosed sum.FAO Schwarz, which first opened in 1862, describes itself as the oldest toy retailer in the US. Toys R Us will operate all three FAO Schwarz stores – two in New York ...
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NewsScott Wheway to use Tesco and Boots experience after Best Buy move
US electricals retailer Best Buy will adopt the best practices of retail giants Tesco and Boots when it debuts in the UK next year.
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News
Sales declines hit Gap profits
Sales declines across all four of Gap’s divisions have led to a 14 per cent slump in first-quarter profits at the clothing giant.In the quarter to May 2 earnings were 15m (£135.5m), down from 49m (£156.9m) the year before. First-quarter net sales were $3.13bn (£1.97bn) compared with $3.38bn (£2.13bn) the ...
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News
Lawson shelves plan to acquire rival
The country’s second largest convenience store chain Lawson has shelved plans to acquire rival am/pm. Lawson said it could not reach an agreement with the US-based competitor.The proposed acquisition would have cost the 9,500-store retailer ¥14.5bn (£97m). As part of the deal, am/pm wanted the majority of its 1,100 stores ...
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News
Unexpected profit revealed by Sears
Department store group Sears posted an unexpected first-quarter profit after slashing advertising costs and payroll expenses.The retailer also extended a credit agreement to increase the amount available to $4.1bn (£2.6bn) until March 24, 2010, and $2.4bn (£1.5bn) from March 25, 2010, to June 2012.Net income in the three months to ...
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News
Target experiences profit fall
General merchandise retailer Target experienced a profit fall from $602m to $522m (£379.4m to £329m) in the first quarter to May 2.Like-for-like sales in its retail arm deteriorated 3.2 per cent while total sales rose 0.4 per cent to $14.4bn (£9.08bn). It is the fifth consecutive quarter that Target’s sales ...
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News
Wal-Mart to end monthly sales reporting
Wal-Mart is to end its monthly sales reporting, which the retailer has been doing since 1979, to “better align investors with the retailer’s business plan and cut volatility caused by holiday shifts”, said Wal-Mart chief financial officer Tom Schoewe.Separately, Easter’s April timing helped improve US retailers’ same-store sales growth for ...
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NewsFamily packs pay off for Fresh & Easy
Fresh & Easy’s 40- to 45-ounce family-sized prepared meals are now the six top-selling lines in the 110-product range, vindicating the grocer’s strategy of offering larger pack sizes.
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News
Abercrombie & Fitch to cut jobs
Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is to cut 170 roles at its head office in Columbus, Ohio. The retailer will cut 9 per cent of its 2,000-strong positions to reduce costs.Abercrombie & Fitch has suffered from a downturn in sales as US consumers rein in spending. Chief financial officer Jonathan ...
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US retail needs structural changes
Structural change is still required in US retail before the sector can emerge from the downturn, the World Retail Congress heard on Wednesday afternoon.
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News
Forever21 eyes London store to kick-start international expansion
US fashion retailer Forever21 has revealed that it wants to open a store on London’s Oxford Street as the first step in a possible expansion into Europe.
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News
Dollar Tree launches transactional website
Single price point retailer Dollar Tree has launched a transactional website, accessible from its Dollartree.com site. The website is aimed at customers who want to buy in large quantities, and allows users to order cases of products with free shipping if they collect their order from one of the retailer’s ...
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News
Directors leave board of US Borders
Embattled American bookseller Borders is undergoing more upheaval, with directors Edna Medford and Michael Weiss leaving the board.Five of the remaining eight directors have also announced they are to leave, although they will wait until the retailer has found replacements before they go.Borders plans to hire a search firm to ...
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NewsFresh & Easy introduces review section to website
Tesco’s US Fresh & Easy operation has introduced a product review section on its website to increase interactivity with its customer base.When shoppers sample a product in stores through the US grocer’s Kitchen Table tasting area, they can then review it online.A Tesco spokesman said: “This launch forms part of ...
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News
Borders US fears grow as market woes widen losses
Embattled bookseller Borders US has plunged further into the red, prompting some experts in the US to suggest Chapter 11 bankruptcy may be its only chance of survival.The company reported a consolidated loss of $16.2m (£10.9m) in the year to January 31 compared with a consolidated loss of just $400,000 ...
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News
Battle for Sears Canada is hotting up
The battle for Sears Canada is hotting up with reports in the US suggesting that major shareholder Sears Holdings has bought 400,000 shares in the company.The move renewed speculation that it may be plotting a bid for the Canadian arm of its business.In 2006, minority shareholder William Ackman blocked a ...
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News
Macy’s credit rating reduced to junk status
Macy’s had its credit rating reduced to junk status by ratings agency Moody’s.
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