Retail briefs

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/25/2002 12:00:00 AM

Spike Lee directs new Kmart ads

Kmart launched its new "Kmart. The Stuff of Life" print and broadcast advertising campaign, which focuses on demonstrating how Kmart understands what really matters in life, during the closing ceremonies of the Olympics last weekend. Directed by Spike Lee, the noted film director, the 15- and 30-second commercials feature people of all races and ages talking about cherished moments in everyday life. Kmart's exclusive brands will be featured within the corporate brand positioning advertising, and images and messaging from the ads will be used in-store, online, and in Kmart's weekly circular.

IKEA adds new DC

IKEA has tapped a new 850,000-square-foot facility based in southern California to handle its distribution for western North America. The new facility will reach 1.7 million square feet at its final phase of construction and will supply store locations from San Diego to western Canada with about 5,250 container shipments of IKEA goods annually. Logistics management firm Genco Distribution System will manage all DC activity, including software, services and staffing.

Elder-Beerman releases year-end results

Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. said it expects to report a net loss of $900,000 to $1.3 million, or $0.08 to $0.11 per share, for the fiscal year ended Feb. 2. This range includes $4.5 million in pre-tax charges related to Shoebilee Inc.'s default and subsequent bankruptcy filing as well as $3.2 million of expenses related to the retirement of its former ceo, Frederick Mershad.

Coldwater Creek drives Internet growth

Coldwater Creek said that e-commerce now accounts for one-third of its sales. Its affiliate program—which puts forward the Coldwater Creek name on more than 3,100 major search engines, consumer and charitable sites such as Yahoo, Excite, InfoSpace, AOL and iVillage — has generated nearly $6.3 million in additional Internet sales revenue since it launched 11 months ago. The program also has boosted the company's database of Internet shoppers by 35 percent.

Bed Bath & Beyond & Yankee Candle Co. strike a deal

Yankee Candle Company Inc. will begin selling its product through Bed Bath & Beyond next month, an expansion beyond its regular wholesale customer base as well as its own retail store network and catalog and Internet operations. Five months ago, Yankee Candle formed a similar agreement with Linens 'N Things.

JCPenney adds Roberts to board

Leonard Roberts, chairman and ceo of Radio Shack Corp., has been elected to the J.C. Penney board of directors, effective today. Roberts was named Radio Shack chairman and ceo in 1999 after serving as president for six years.

Wal-Mart employees put stop to union vote

Iowa Wal-Mart employees stopped a unionization vote by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). Employees at the Dubuque, IA, Tire and Lube Express sent letters to the UFCW and the local National Labor Relations Board asking that the UFCW withdraw their union representation petition. The union also withdrew from a Wal-Mart election in Normal, IL, in March 2000.