Economy Watch – Dollar Stores Still U.S. Retail Winners
from Gourmet Retailer
Dollar stores, one of the few categories of retail winner during 2009 (besides Wal-Mart), keep piling on the positive numbers. Dollar General Co. reported numbers for its second fiscal quarter on Thursday, turning in an 8.6 percent increase in same-store sales compared with 2Q08. Its quarterly net income increased 238 percent. More

Home Depot 'Eco Options' Label Aimed at 'Green' Buyers
from MSNBC
Home Depot is trying to reach environmentally-friendly business customers and consumers with an "Eco Options" label that it's rolled out in its stores, the retailer's chief financial officer said. The company currently offers 3,700 "Eco Options" products in its stores. Every product with an Eco Options label, according to the company, has less of an impact on the environment than competing products. These products focus on sustainable forestry, energy efficiency, clean air and water conservation. More

Bernanke: Recession 'Likely Over'
from The Wall Street Journal
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the recession was "very likely over," as consumers showed some of the first tangible signs of spending again. Bernanke, who had become cautiously more upbeat in recent weeks amid signs of third-quarter growth, said for the first time that forecasters agree "at this point that we are in a recovery." More

Vestar Center in Phoenix Earns LEED Certification
fromThe Arizona Republic
Most retailers' claims to green-ness have to do with their products and practices, rather than the buildings within which they are located. However, Phoenix-based Vestar Development Co., builder of retail strip malls and larger "power centers" such as Tempe Marketplace, said that it believes shopping centers should go green along with office, residential, government and other buildings. The company announced that one of its shopping centers had achieved an Arizona first: certification by the U.S. Green Building Council as a bona-fide green shopping center. More

Blockbuster Will Close Stores and Channel Savings Elsewhere
from Internet Retailer
Blockbuster Inc. may close up to 25 percent of its stores in the next year to cut costs and free up cash that will be used to build up other business development, including e-commerce. In a new regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Blockbuster, No. 37 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, says it could close between 810 and 960 unprofitable stores between now and December 2010. More

Using Recycling Initiatives to Drive Store Traffic
from Retailing Today
“Sustainability” and “going green” are fast becoming key buzzwords everywhere, and the retail environment is no exception. The past few years have demonstrated that the most impactful sustainability initiatives are those that customers can touch, feel and take part in. As more and more consumers express a desire for their retailers to be environmentally conscious, many store chains have responded with creative efforts ranging from cutting energy consumption to reducing waste. While these initiatives can go a long way toward trimming operating costs and creating positive public relations, it’s not always easy to translate them into increased store traffic. More

Luxury Retailers Rush To Adapt: Chic Goes Cheap
from TIME Magazine
The crippling economic downturn with its mounting job losses and frozen credit markets has extended far beyond mainstream America, hitting high-end consumers in their Gucci pocketbooks. "This is one of the worst financial crises of our time, and [luxury] has been one of the hardest hit markets for retailers," said Monica Aggarwal, a director in Fitch Ratings Retail Group. As analysts scan the landscape they see a virtual Who's Who of battered luxury chains. More

Toy Retailers Set Up for Holiday Sprint
from United Press International
Industry market analysts said large U.S. toy retailers are gearing up aggressively for the upcoming holiday shopping season, as the recession continues. Toys R Us is expected to open 80 temporary stores for the holiday season. In addition, while expanding 200 established stores with a new line called R Markets, Toys R Us will open 260 smaller stores inside Babies R Us outlets this year. More

Store Replenishment System Provides Time and Labor Savings, Visual Impact
from STORES
They call it the “pit,” an area in the center of the store devoted to fast- moving items. But what happens when the fast movers don’t hit the pit fast enough? This was the scenario facing BrandsMart U.S.A., a Hollywood, Fla.-based discounter of home appliances and electronics that operates eight high-traffic warehouse-style stores in Florida and Georgia. It wanted a replenishment system that could eliminate trips between the warehouse and the center of the store without increasing out of stocks and boosting labor costs. More

NCR Strikes Deal with Publix
from Drug Store News
NCR Corp. has reached an agreement to operate its DVD rental kiosks in Publix Super Markets. NCR plans to complete the installation of its Blockbuster Express DVD-rental kiosks in most Florida-area Publix stores by Nov. 1, the company said. NCR also has begun installations in select Publix stores in other major markets, including Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; and Charleston, S.C. No membership is required to rent a DVD from NCR’s kiosks – customers simply swipe their credit card and are charged $1 per night until they return the DVD. More