Retail Briefs

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/5/2009 12:00:00 AM

Kohl's Opens 30 New Stores in Calif.

Kohl's Department Stores was scheduled to open 30 new California units last week — one of which represents the retailer's 59th solar location in the state at Point West in Sacramento.

The Sacramento store is Kohl's 79th solar location nationwide. Including the new Sacramento solar location, nearly half of Kohl's California stores will be solar. Other recent California solar locations opened by Kohl's in the last month include Mira Loma, Rancho San Diego and San Jose South.

All 30 Kohl's stores that opened in California, including the Point West location in Sacramento, were among the 36 former Mervyns locations acquired by Kohl's since December 2008.

Sears and Kmart Launch Christmas Club Card

Sears and Kmart are bringing back the Christmas Club savings concept through the launch of a card that will allow consumers to put away money for holiday shopping. The card will earn a 3% reward up to a maximum of $100 based upon the card's value on Nov. 14. Cards can be activated between now and Oct. 31 at Sears and Kmart stores or online at www.sears.com/christmasclub or www.kmart.com/christmasclub. The start-up minimum is $5.

"We heard that our customers were concerned about how they were going to pay for their holiday shopping this year, and we wanted to provide a way to ease that concern," said Susan Ehrlich, president, financial services, Sears Holdings.

Walmart Marketplace Takes a Page from Amazon

Walmart.com has added nearly one million new items to its site through alliances with other online retailers that sell home, baby, apparel, toys and sporting goods /sports memorabilia. The company says it plans to add additional retailers in the coming 12 months. CSN Stores (www.csnstores.com) is Walmart.com's partner in home, and its textiles selection is limited to area rugs. Orders are placed through Walmart's site, and the discounter will handle customer service, shipping, handling, exchanges and returns.

Prius Top Prize in Overstock Anniversary Sweepstakes

Overstock.com is launched a 10-day, online "Decade O'Deals" sweepstakes to celebrate its 10th anniversary, which is Oct. 9. The grand prize will be a 2009 Toyota Prius hybrid car. Other big prizes include a home theatre system, a $5,000 jewelry package, a moped, a smart phone package, a luxury watch, one year's free gas, a $5,000 room makeover, a $5,000 dream vacation package and a $5,000 shopping spree on Overstock.com.

In its most recent fiscal year, Overstock generated revenues of $256 million and net income of $1 million. "Many people said that we would not last this long but our loyal customers are the ones that made this all possible," said chairman and ceo Patrick Byrne.