Gift cards reshape retailer margins this holiday season
Gift card sales surge with estimates of 17.24 billion in holidays, pressuring margins as retailers discount. AmEx expands to Rite Aid and Winn-Dixie boosting November sales fivefold, while Wal-Mart and General Growth Properties note stronger gift card performance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gap Inc
Old Navy
Sears, Roebuck and Co
National Retail Federation
American Express Co
Rite Aid Corp
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc
General Growth Properties Inc
Wal-Mart Stores Inc
Slater
Karl Bjornson
Kurt Salmon Associates
Back-ended holiday shopping and January retail shifts
The 2003 holiday season saw a larger share of sales in the final two weeks, with retailers planning January replenishments. Federated, Best Buy, and J.C. Penney adjust inventories to sustain gift card redemptions and push January merchandise like video games, DVDs, digital music, and winter items amid timing challenges.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James McCusker
Canaan, Conn
Federated Department Stores Inc
Best Buy Co
J.C. Penney Co
Winter storm nails Plains to Midwest with ice and snow
A winter storm spread snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to the Great Lakes, closing schools and roads. Texas reports 17 accidents near Abilene as icy highways caused rollovers while flights were delayed or canceled at Dallas Fort Worth. Kentucky and Arkansas brace for a rare white Christmas with potential ice up to an inch and a foot of snow in western regions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Plains
Midwest
Texas Department of Public Safety
Abilene
Texas
New Mexico
Great Lakes
Texas Panhandle
National Weather Service
Dallas-Fort Worth
Ken Capps
Ohio
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Colorado State Line
Tennessee
Greyhound
Susie Brown
Cincinnati
Louisville
Linda Utley
Pennyrile Parkway
Kentucky
Robin Smith
Paducah
Checotah
Officials study options to slow trains through Horse Creek Valley
Valley residents urge safer rail speeds as trains run near homes. McKenzie notes the need to slow trains while authorities cite lack of power to override federal rules. County staff to request Norfolk Southern voluntary 25 mph limits through the area near school openings and shift changes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McKenzie
Norfolk Southern
Horse Creek Valley
J.C. Lexow
Flexow
Aikenstandard.com
Charity peanuts honor memory and aid Children's Miracle Network
The Watts family uses boiled peanuts sold at festivals to cope with bereavement and raise funds for charity. Since Billy Lundy’s death the family has donated over 500000 dollars to the Children’s Miracle Network through events at Wal Mart and other community efforts. The Chief Bill Lundy Memorial Scholarship Fund received the Angel Award for service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Owen Watts
Jessie Lundy
Billy
Watts
Billy Lundy
Charita
Ble
West Columbia
Wal-Mart
Children’s Miracle Network
Bill Lundy
South Carolina
Senator DeMint to serve on five key committees
Senator elect Jim DeMint will join the Commerce Science and Transportation, Environment and Public Works, Joint Economic, Special Committee on Aging and will take a seat on the Environment and Public Works panel delaying the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton confirmed the appointments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Veterans Affairs
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Jim DeMint
Hollings
Commerce, Science and Transportation
Environment and Public Works
Joint Economic Committee
Wesley Denton
DeMint
South Carolina
Also Mentioned on This Page
CENCE
International Council of Shopping Centers
Benny Shell
Cape Girardeau, Mo
Aiken’s
First Baptist Church
York Street
Richland Avenue
Fbcaiken.org
Philip Lord
Plord
Whiskey Rd
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