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Wal-Mart has an aggressive expansion policy that includes Asia and Europe as a means of maintaining double-digit growth. In 1993, Wal-Mart created an international division that has already opened Sam's Clubs in Asia. Europe is expected to be the next target as indicated by applications for foreign trade status for distribution plants in Georgia and Arizona. Wal-Mart has been familiarizing itself with the Far Eastern market by supplying clothing and other merchandise to Japanese retailer Yaohan for sale in Singapore., 'Wal-Mart employees who do not think globally are working for the wrong company.' That's the view from the top, expressed by chief executive David Glass in a recent speech. Showing [...]

Kmart is facing national publicity during a class action suit that was granted national status by an Oklahoma judge. The suit claims that the chain retail discounter defrauded customers on automobile repairs. Kmart has opposed the suit and has since received some response from other dissatisfied customers and a few former auto service employees after American Broadcasting Companies' television news program 20/20 aired an interview with the law suit's protagonist., NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- A national class action suit against Kmart alleging that it defrauded customers on auto repairs gained national exposure last month when the tabloid news program 20/20 [...]

Proposed federal regulations have the potential to cost retailers hundreds of millions of dollars in new operating expenses. New regulatory measures being considered by federal legislators include a ban on the use of electronic surveillance of employees, a new striker replacement bill, and mandated employee safety committees. A new program to test truck drivers for alcohol goes into effect beginning Jan 1, 1995., FREEDOM VS. SECURITY: NEW REGULATIONS DEBATED If federal regulators and lawmakers have their way, proposed new rules on the way retailers ship their goods, operate their warehouses, stock their shelves [...]

Washington D.C. is a good market for retailers because it ranks first or second in demographics that are right for retailers. The average income is $58,000 plus, with many with incomes above $75,000, and the level of education is very high. Many retailers hire employees who understand the many ethnic markets that co-exist in the area, and the typical shopping radius for each store is small, due to traffic problems that encourage consumers to shop within their own neighborhoods., Among the top 10 metro markets in the country, metropolitan Washington, including the District of Columbia and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs, ranks No. 8 in size and No. 8 [...]

Target Stores is combating both national and regional competition in the discount store arena, and is winning in some respects. Target reported a 15% increase in operating profits during 1993, despite a weak economy. The firm has focused on price-cutting measures against Wal-Mart and Kmart to increase its competitive efforts, and has continued to report a 5.6% operating profit margin. Regional competition includes such chain stores as Fred Meyer and Venture., On one flank, Target is fending off national giants Wal-Mart and Kmart as a down and dirty discounter of commodity goods, and on the other, staving off a platoon of [...]

Discounters were attracted by in the new lines of lawn and garden furniture, home security and safety equipment, environmentally-oriented outdoor living products and higher priced lawn and garden machines exhibited at the Aug 1993, National Hardware Show. Goldblatt's plans to expand its power tool products but displayed great interest in home security equipment. Bradlees hopes to continue its cedar furniture patio sales and Rose's Stores will carry small hand tools, paint, nuts and bolts and smaller items. Vendors exhibited 1,100 new hardware items, including new spreading devices that can be attached to power lawn mowers., CHICAGO - Home security and safety, along with an increased focus on lawn, patio and garden equipment and an overall move toward upscale products were among the themes to emerge [...]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc selected Turnersville, NJ for its entry into New Jersey in 1991 because it is a discount house orientated marketplace. However, Wal-Mart has not been able to become the leading discounter despite offering the lowest prices. A Leo J. Shapiro and Associates survey of Turnersville consumers found that 11% shopped at all five of the area's major discount houses, 25% patronized four and 37% used three. Consumers generally preferred shopping at Bradlees, which also was the leader in apparel sales and customer spending. K Mart Corp led in consumer electronics, toys, sporting goods and linens., When Wal-Mart attempted this fall to get planning board approval for a Sam's Club next to its discount store here, it quickly learned how much residents in Southern New Jersey [...]

Retail discount houses and warehouse stores have failed to capitalize on the growing market for water-saving devices except at stores located in drought-ridden areas. Hardware manufacturers and vendors have found an exploding market for their $5 to $7 water kits with sales to home center stores, hardware and plumbing equipment stores, public utilities and city and state governments. Nine states and many cities have laws or ordinances requiring water saving retrofits for bathrooms and kitchens. Public utilities have used giveaways and rebates to encourage usage of water-saving devices., On the retail level, the market for water-saving devices, such as low-volume shower heads, faucet aerators and toilet tank restricters, remains in its infancy, driven by the latest drought news, [...]

Retail off-price stores that sell all merchandise for $1 are suddenly booming in popularity and are expected to achieve almost $500 million sales in 1992. Ten years of growth stagnation that followed concept originator 99 Cents Only's initial 1982 opening has been replaced by an exploding industry pandered to by manufacturers, upscale malls and the general public. Everything's a $1.00 Inc, the industry leader, forecasts $250 million in sales. Arizona, Colorado and California new store openings will increase the chain's total to 390 stores in 1992., Chains Selling Everything for $1 Promise Value for the '90s As a retailing concept, closeout stores that sell everything for a dollar are now taking off, after having plodded along [...]

Throngs of retirees fleeing California smog and crime and multitudes of Canadian shoppers escaping from high prices and high taxes at home prompted Target to open its second Idaho store [...]

Green Issues Confront Automotives Industry Although environmental issues associated with packaging and household cleaners are more pressing for discounters, those related to automotive parts and chemicals are also helping to [...]

Makers Tout Green on Shelves Health and beauty aids marketing promises to become even more competitive as manufacturers claim credit for making their products and packaging more earth friendly. Manufacturers [...]

Getting Out From Down Under Australian Retailers Struggle to Rebound From Rising Inflation and Soaring Trade Deficit After gorging themselves during a two-year feast in 1988 and 1989, Australian retailers [...]

Big Three Take High Road On Environmental Front Wal-Mart earned goodwill among environmentalists when it was the first major retailer to speak out in favor of the environment in 1989. [...]

New Hair Care Makes Waves Two-In-Ones Add Volume to Shampoo Sales A wave of new, two-in-one shampoo and conditioner preparations is breaking over the health and beauty aids market, and [...]

New Prototypes Trigger Massive Spending Surge Kmart's commitment of $2.3 billion over the next five years to build 250 more stores and to relocate, enlarge and remodel existing units to [...]

Brand Switching Adds Gloss to Flat Paint Sales Brand switching was the main merchandising strategy used by discount chains last year in an attempt to squeeze more dollars out of [...]

CHESAPEAKE, VA. -- What once looked like a hot new retail concept for the '90s, a store where everything is priced at a buck, basically crashed and burned in mid-decade. [...]

Since high-performance engines run hotter, synthetic oils are becoming hot tickets and providing the only bright spot in the engine oil market. Although still a small part of the overall [...]

Home centers have captured the lion's share of the $9 billion retail lighting and electrical supplies business, leaving discounters about a 13% market share. But discounters still find they can [...]

NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- With employee turnover hitting 100% or more in a tightening job market, retailers including Target are turning to technology to improve on the hiring process. And [...]

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. - Pep Boys is in the process of making a major transition from an auto parts chain mostly dependent on selling parts to the shrinking market [...]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Dayton Hudson's annual meeting set a new record for brevity--25 minutes flat. And that included chairman and ceo Bob Ulrich's prepared remarks to shareholders and a video clip [...]

RICHARD HALVERSON TIMONIUM, MD. - Less is more at the renovated Caldor store here, the second unit remodeled this fall to the company's new prototype: One less level - but [...]

RICHARD HALVERSON Kmart is racing hard to reposition its lawn & garden centers now that it has lost its lead to the home centers. And it is not alone when [...]

The good news: Credit line extended, interest rates cut RICHARD HALVERSON By many financial measures, 1996 was a good year for Kmart, but the company must clear several major hurdles [...]

RICHARD HALVERSON VALLEY FORGE, PA. - Mitch Leibovitz, chairman and ceo of Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, is delighted that Western Auto is dropping auto service from its [...]

Convenience & Color Mark L&G Consumers Favor Flowering Plants, Easy-to-Use Products as Rainfall Reverses 1988's Sales Drought Convenience and color are cropping up throughout the lawn and garden market. Ready-to-use [...]

NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- In its usual round of March openings, Target added 18 more stores, including two Long Island Greatland stores that fall squarely within the New York City [...]

Kmart continues to make improvements in its financial position, but the road leading to full recovery -- not to mention a return to robust growth -- remains studded with hurdles. [...]

LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Meijer is getting set to enter Louisville and expects to enter the Chicago market in 1999 with the first of up to 10 stores. In late March, [...]

Car dealers and businesses that offer quick lube services will control as much as 80% of the market by 2005, and this will influence the future sales of motor oil. Do-it-yourself (DIY) sales of motor oil will continue to be led by discount stores, which have 51.3% of the DIY motor oil market, and auto parts chains, which have 35.9% of the market. However, sales of motor oil for the DIY market are expected to decline at an annual rate of 4% to 5%., The future of motor oil belongs to the quick lubes and car dealers. Installers, which have 14,000 free-standing quick lube units and about 7,000 dealer-operated quick lube centers in the [...]

The Caldor discount store chain anticipates being able to emerge from Chapter 11 by Jun 30, 1998. The company cited its improved financial performance as reasons for their optimistic forecast. For example, the company's EBITDAR cash flow reached $50 million in 1997, and Caldor has been able to reduce operating expenses by $19 million over the previous fiscal year. Caldor has submitted a business reorganization plan, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court is expected to rule on the plan on Feb 13, 1998., Norwalk, Conn. -- Caldor disclosed that it could get its business reorganization plan approved and into effect by June 30. That would mean emergence from Chapter 11 almost three years [...]

Discount store chain Venture Stores Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan 20, 1998. It is unclear whether the company will be reorganized or liquidated, although analysts expect the latter is the most likely to occur. Any attempt by Venture to reorganize will be difficult since the company lost VP Jim Frestl, who left in Jan 1998. Additionally, the company no longer owns any of its stores, and it still hasn't solved its Year 2000 problems., O'FALLON, MO. -- Given that factors stopped guaranteeing payment for shipments to Venture Stores last fall and the continued free falls in comp store sales, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. [...]

Lawn and garden cutting tools result in approximately $500 million in retail sales with a growth of 5% each year even though sales take place only during spring and fall. There are no new products but there are improvements made to them on a regular basis. Lighter tools that are easier to use are important to older people and women of all ages. Ergonomic factors have also become important to garden tool users., Lawn and garden cutting tools -- pruning shears, loppers, pruning saws, pole trimmers, hedge shears -- aren't exactly flying off the shelves and enjoy only brief spring and fall seasons. [...]

Venture Stores Inc. has stopped paying its bills, and the chain faces bankruptcy after posting a $30- to $35-million dollar loss for the 4th quarter of 1997. Cash flow appears insufficient to cover interest payments on Venture's debt. In addition, Standard & Poor's downgraded the store's notes and industrial revenue bonds, and suppliers have stopped shipping merchandise to the chain., O'FALLON, MO. -- Bad news continues to batter Venture Stores, leaving it staring bankruptcy in the face. * Vendors have stopped shipping merchandise after Venture stopped paying bills from 'many' [...]

AutoZone is testing a closed circuit TV security system in 150 to 200 stores that are in high crime areas to replace in-store security guards. A two-way video system allows off-duty police officers to project their image into the store to talk with potential criminals. Houston, TX-based InterStar operates the system., MEMPHIS, TENN. -- AutoZone is testing a new closed circuit TV security system that promises to replace the high cost of providing in-store security guards in 150 to 200 stores [...]