Content about Sales

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute on Monday selected nine finalists for the 12th annual Store Manager Awards competition, which identifies exceptional store managers who generate sales growth, provide great customer service, lead outstanding store teams and serve the community in unique ways. Among the nine, three winners will be named on May 1 in Dallas at the FMI2012 convention and retail trade show.

Recently during one of our Elevation Forum meetings, we asked the question: which competitors do you worry about the most?

Many of the leaders in the room listed either the largest or the fastest growing competitors they compete against. But one honest executive shared a provocative reflection. He said we are not as worried about who’s outside, but more focused on the enemy in the mirror. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Acosta Sales and Marketing on Wednesday announced it has completed the acquisition of Griffin Strategic Advisors and will form a new business unit called AMG Strategic Advisors.

A few years back, Harvard surgeon Atul Gawande authored a book called “The Checklist Manifesto.” The author's message is that the complexity of life has exceeded most individual's ability to manage it consistently without error despite advances in technology, training and specialization.

His solution is the utilization of a checklist or a blueprint to ensure and drive success.

Getting a product noticed by a retail buyer or a paying customer in today’s environment is difficult to say the least. Unless you are a Fortune 100 company or you are lucky enough to have a mega-media budget, just getting an appointment with a retail buyer can be difficult. Today’s buyers are so time-starved they have to be very selective in who and when they see new suppliers and products.

MINNEAPOLIS — Hyper-local initiatives and the rollout of sales tools at Supervalu, along with inflation, are helping to drive better-than-expected comparable sales for the company's second-quarter results, Supervalu reported Wednesday morning.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred’s posted a 1% gain in sales, to $17.5 million, for the five weeks ended Oct. 1.

Comparable store sales for September increased 1.1%; comparable store sales were flat in the year-earlier month. The September total sales comparison was adversely affected by store-closing sales that occurred last year during the month.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Thursday named Ed Bissler corporate VP sales. Bissler comes to H. D. Smith from McKesson, where he most recently directed the strategic sales and service functions for many of that company’s national accounts.

In his new role at H. D. Smith, Bissler will be responsible for overseeing the company’s overall sales function and implementing the strategic direction of the sales team as H. D. Smith targets new growth sectors.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Strong performances in key categories and higher gas profitability helped BJ’s Wholesale Club exceed its earnings guidance for the second quarter.

The company reported net income for the period ended July 30 of $45.7 million, or 84 cents per diluted share. The company's guidance called for net income in the range of $40.5 to $42.5 million and earnings in the range of 74 cents to 78 cents per diluted share. For second quarter 2010, BJ's reported net income of $35.8 million, or 67 cents per diluted share.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday reported its second-quarter sales increased 3.5% to $676.7 million, while its comparable-store sales for the period increased 5.1%.

For the 13-week period ended June 25, the company's net income increased 0.9% to $20.7 million, compared with $20.5 million in 2010, while earnings per share increased to 77 cents, compared with 76 cents in 2010.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Costco Wholesale and BJ’s Wholesale reported strong sales growth and produced impressive comps even without the benefit of fuel sales.

Costco reported that net sales for the month of May increased 17% to $7.14 billion from $6.09 billion last year. This year’s May results period included sales from the company's Mexico joint venture. If these sales are excluded, Costco’s net sales increase would have been 14%.