Content about Kmart

November 2, 2012
Kmart, Sears distribute emergency items, provide loyalty-card points to storm-affected areas

Sears and Kmart are offering more than a quarter-million dollars in rewards for members of their loyalty program and sending emergency equipment from 42 distribution centers in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, parent company Sears Holdings said.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears and Kmart are offering more than a quarter-million dollars in rewards for members of their loyalty program and sending emergency equipment from 42 distribution centers in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, parent company Sears Holdings said.

November 2, 2012
Retailers, suppliers recover, provide relief in Sandy's aftermath

The Northeast is still recovering from one of the worst disasters it has ever faced. Many residents remain without electrical power, while others have lost their entire homes, businesses, workplaces and in a growing number of cases, their lives.

NEW YORK — The Northeast is still recovering from one of the worst disasters it has ever faced. Many residents remain without electrical power, while others have lost their entire homes, businesses, workplaces and in a growing number of cases, their lives.

November 2, 2012
Sears Holdings taps former OfficeMax exec to lead grocery, drug and Rx business

Sears Holdings has announced that Ryan Vero will join the company as SVP and president of grocery, drug and pharmacy.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has announced that Ryan Vero will join the company as SVP and president of grocery, drug and pharmacy.

Vero most recently served as the EVP and chief merchandising/marketing officer for OfficeMax. In his new role with Sears Holdings, Vero will be responsible for the oversight, leadership and growth, both in-store and online, for the company's grocery, drug and pharmacy businesses.

October 29, 2012
Kmart, Sears stores stock emergency supplies ahead of 'Frankenstorm'

Sears Holdings said it was “rushing” emergency supplies to stores on the East Coast ahead of Hurricane Sandy.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Sears Holdings said it was “rushing” emergency supplies to stores on the East Coast ahead of Hurricane Sandy.

The company, which operates the Sears and Kmart chains, said it would stock up on portable generators, chainsaws, gasoline cans, flashlights and other equipment at stores from North Carolina to Maine.

October 17, 2012
Kmart introduces Latina Smart internship program

Kmart is looking for five interns for a new program designed to provide opportunities to Hispanic women.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is looking for five interns for a new program designed to provide opportunities to Hispanic women.

October 12, 2012
Pet meds provide new way to draw in customers

One of the most common reasons that retailers give for pet-medication programs is that pets are part of the family.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — One of the most common reasons that retailers give for pet-medication programs is that pets are part of the family.

As analyst Debbie Wang of investment firm Morningstar told Drug Store News in April 2012, more empty nesters and young couples putting off having children are driving increases in pet ownership, and with that comes a need for pet healthcare.

October 8, 2012
Kmart, Sears offer new mobile, online, layaway services for holiday season

Kmart and Sears are eliminating layaway service fees, starting a layaway home-delivery service and new in-store mobile features for what the company expects to be the busiest shopping season since 2007.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart and Sears are eliminating layaway service fees, starting a layaway home-delivery service and new in-store mobile features for what the company expects to be the busiest shopping season since 2007.

October 3, 2012
Kmart, Sears offer ship-to-home for online layaway purchases

Sears Holdings now is offering its Kmart and Sears customers the option of ship-to-home delivery for items purchased through online layaway.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings now is offering its Kmart and Sears customers the option of ship-to-home delivery for items purchased through online layaway.

The new service, also available on store kiosks, now enables shoppers to select, purchase and have the items delivered directly to their homes, bypassing the layaway line altogether. Both retailers will begin the exclusive layaway ship-to-home service starting Nov. 7.

Sears has also joined Kmart in removing all layaway service fees both online and in-store leading up to the holiday season.

September 7, 2012
Kmart does away with layaway fee

Kmart has removed its layaway service fee both in stores and online through Nov. 17.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has removed its layaway service fee both in stores and online through Nov. 17.

The mass retailer, which offers the program year round, said the decision to make the program free "emphasizes the company's commitment to delivering value and convenience to customers, acknowledging family budgets are strained during the holiday."

August 20, 2012
Supervalu names new president of its DC/Baltimore Shoppers division

Supervalu on Monday announced Robert Bly will join the company as president of Shoppers, a 56-store division in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., market.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Monday announced Robert Bly will join the company as president of Shoppers, a 56-store division in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., market.

Bly is expected to begin his new role on Aug. 22 and will report to Chuck Elias, SVP retail operations. Bly replaces Tim Lowe, who recently accepted a new leadership role in Supervalu's merchandising organization.

August 16, 2012
Leading retailers seek to deliver mobile wallet to consumers

A new company formed by leading U.S. retailers is looking to offer consumers a mobile commerce experience that will combine the convenience of paying at the register with customizable offers.

DALLAS — A new company formed by leading U.S. retailers is looking to offer consumers a mobile commerce experience that will combine the convenience of paying at the register with customizable offers.

August 16, 2012
Sears Holdings narrows losses in Q2 as comps decline

Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart, posted a 3.7% decline in same-store sales and a $132 million loss for second quarter 2012, according to financial results announced Thursday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart, posted a 3.7% decline in same-store sales and a $132 million loss for second quarter 2012, according to financial results announced Thursday.

August 8, 2012
Kmart underscores uniform offering for BTS

Kmart said it has adjusted its approach to back to school by increasing the number of stores that sell uniforms and aligning its back-to-school sales periods by region to match that of the local school districts.

HOFFMAN ESTATES. Ill. — Kmart said it has adjusted its approach to back to school by increasing the number of stores that sell uniforms and aligning its back-to-school sales periods by region to match that of the local school districts.

August 3, 2012
Kmart offering savings for BTS season

Kmart announced it is providing its customers with back-to-school offers.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced it is providing its customers with back-to-school offers.

Until Aug. 18, the retailer said its shoppers will receive 5% off new in-store layaway purchases and noted that online shoppers also can utilize online layaway or shop online and pick up items in stores. Kmart also said for the back-to-school season, its Shop Your Way loyalty program is offering the following deals:

July 18, 2012
Kmart raises more than $106M to benefit March of Dimes

For nearly 30 years, Kmart has been helping to improve the health of babies in partnership with the March of Dimes and, in 2012, the retailer raised $8 million to benefit the organization, bringing Kmart’s total contribution throughout the partnership to $106 million.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — For nearly 30 years, Kmart has been helping to improve the health of babies in partnership with the March of Dimes and, in 2012, the retailer raised $8 million to benefit the organization, bringing Kmart’s total contribution throughout the partnership to $106 million.

Kmart, which is a subsidiary of Sears Holdings, has made working on behalf of the health and wellness of children a company-wide effort involving management, associates and customers throughout all the company's in-store activities and events.

June 4, 2012
Scott Huckins joins Sears Holdings

Kmart parent company Sears Holdings announced the appointment of Scott Huckins to the post of VP and corporate treasurer.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart parent company Sears Holdings announced the appointment of Scott Huckins to the post of VP and corporate treasurer.

Huckins joins the company from RSC Holdings, where he served as VP and treasurer, responsible for global treasury, credit and investor relations activities.

May 23, 2012
Kmart introduces bill-payment service

Kmart has introduced a walk-in bill payment service in its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Wednesday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has introduced a walk-in bill payment service in its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Wednesday.

Kmart announced the introduction of the CheckFreePay walk-in bill payment service from Fiserv, which allows customers at all of the chain's stores to pay bills from more than 3,000 companies, including utility, credit card and auto loan bills, for $1.50 or less per transaction, with cash or a PIN-based debit card.

May 18, 2012
Sears Holdings moves from loss to profit in Q1

Sears Holdings reported profits of $189 million during first quarter 2012, compared with a $165 million loss in first quarter 2011, the company said.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings reported profits of $189 million during first quarter 2012, compared with a $165 million loss in first quarter 2011, the company said.

"We are pleased with the results for the first quarter and our progress toward restoring profit growth and transforming our company," president and CEO Lou D'Ambrosio said.

May 14, 2012
Harris poll: Walgreens tops among drug store retailers in brand equity

Consumers gravitate toward traditional pharmacies for their everyday health-and-wellness needs, according to the "2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend" survey released Monday.

NEW YORK — Consumers gravitate toward traditional pharmacies for their everyday health-and-wellness needs, according to the "2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend" survey released Monday. Among retail pharmacy operations, Walgreens enjoyed the greatest brand equity among consumers based on top consumer scores in "familiarity" and "purchase consideration" categories. Overall, Walgreens' brand equity was tabulated at 69.9, CVS/pharmacy came in at 67.4 and Rite Aid 62.5.

May 14, 2012
Visual cues, comparison shopping can sway shoppers to switch brands, research finds

New research that will appear in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Marketing Research explores consumer sentiment over the extension of a premium brand outside of its typical category.

NEW YORK — New research that will appear in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Marketing Research explores consumer sentiment over the extension of a premium brand outside of its typical category.

May 11, 2012
Could pet meds be the new flu shots?

The past two weeks have seen two new additions to the list of retailers selling prescription drugs for pets, showing that this space, while still small, is growing in importance.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The past two weeks have seen two new additions to the list of retailers selling prescription drugs for pets, showing that this space, while still small, is growing in importance and offers a good way for retailers to drive customer traffic.

May 7, 2012
Sears launches localized shopping portal

Sears has launched SearsLocalAd.com, an online service that provides customers with access to additional local deals beyond the weekly Sears print circular or Sears.com.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears has launched SearsLocalAd.com, an online service that provides customers with access to additional local deals beyond the weekly Sears print circular or Sears.com.

The online shopping portal is dedicated to local customers, allowing them to shop smarter by previewing new local deals updated every week, and includes enhancements for Sears' Shop Your Way Rewars members.

May 4, 2012
Kmart sells prescription pet medications

Kmart is introducing prescription pet medications at its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Friday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is introducing prescription pet medications at its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Friday.

The company said the new program was designed to make it easier for customers to get branded and generic pet drugs and more convenient to shop for the whole family. More than 60% of American households own a pet, and families spent more than $50 billion on their pets in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association.

May 3, 2012
Following profitable Q3, Cardinal prepares for what may be a challenging FY2013

The recent loss of business from a key specialty pharmacy customer and the continued deluge of generic introductions will represent significant challenges for Cardinal Health in fiscal year 2013 as it approaches the year-end of its fiscal 2012, company executives told analysts during a conference call Thursday morning.

DUBLIN, Ohio — The recent loss of business from a key specialty pharmacy customer and the continued deluge of generic introductions will represent significant challenges for Cardinal Health in fiscal year 2013 as it approaches the year-end of its fiscal 2012, company executives told analysts during a conference call Thursday morning.

May 1, 2012
Sears Holdings offers peek at Q1 earnings

Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart, expects to make a profit of between $155 million and $195 million in first quarter 2012, compared with a $165 million loss in first quarter 2011, the company said Tuesday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart, expects to make a profit of between $155 million and $195 million in first quarter 2012, compared with a $165 million loss in first quarter 2011, the company said Tuesday.

In a statement released in advance of its annual shareholders meeting Wednesday, Sears Holdings said the profit includes $235 million from the sales of stores in the United States and Canada, which generated $440 million of cash proceeds.