Retail briefs

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Dollar General names president; execs reshuffled

Lawrence Jackson has been appointed president and coo of Dollar General, effective Sept. 22. Reporting to David Perdue, chairman and ceo, Jackson will oversee all business operations of the company, including store operations, merchandising, new store development and supply-chain functions. He most recently served as senior vp, supply operations, for Safeway. Before that, he spent 17 years in management at Pepsi Cola Co. Dollar General also reorganized its executive team to allow greater focus on areas critical to the company's growth, naming Stonie O'Briant executive vp of merchandising, marketing and strategic planning, and Tom Hartshorn executive vp of new business development. Both O'Briant and Hartshorn, along with Jeff Sims, vp of distribution, and Tony Davis, vp of transportation, will report directly to Jackson. Dollar General also announced a search for a store operations executive, looking both internally and externally.

September sales most affected by weather

Consumer demand for seasonal merchandise this September is expected to climb 12 percent, as Planalytics expects the country to be cooler in most areas compared to last year. Monthly same-store sales are historically most affected by the weather during September and October, according to a joint research project by Planalytics, a Wayne, PA-based supply chain planning and optimization technology company, and Citigroup Smith Barney. Twenty-three percent of same-store sales in September are affected by the weather, which factors so much at the department stores, since 70 to 80 percent of their merchandise is apparel, said Deborah Weinswig, senior retail analyst, SmithBarney, and a guest speaker during Planalytics' business weather briefing for September. October typically sees 22 percent of sales affected by weather.

Gottschalks sees improvements during second quarter

Gottschalks saw better second quarter results from its new merchandise replenishment system and improved inventory flow, which resulted in a gross margin improvement of 50 basis points, said Jim Famalette, president and ceo. Frequently out of stock on sizes and basic items previously, it is now more often in stock, he said. After closing six stores earlier, Famalette said it had no plans to shutter any more this year, though it continues to closely monitor the stores' performance. It also was very pleased with the "tremendous progress" in its Pacific Northwest stores, he noted. Famalette added that if a potential buyer approached Gottschalks, it would do what was best for the company, though there is no activity right now.

Sure Fit and BBBY partner in FIT contest

Sure Fit and Bed Bath & Beyond have joined in a special design contest at the Fashion Institute of Technology for students majoring in display and exhibit design. The winning designer will have his or her project on display in a portion of Sure Fit's holiday window space at Bed Bath's store on Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, and will receive cash and a gift card from Sure Fit and Bed Bath & Beyond. The competition begins on Sept. 2 and the winning designer will be selected on Oct. 8 in a ceremony kicking off the holiday shopping season.