Aarthi Sivaraman

Check out one analyst's view on September sales for some retailers.

Sales for the month of September may have gotten off to a strong start for some retailers thanks to the Labor Day holiday and schools opening in the beginning of the month, but likely lost some steam after that, according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Jeff Black.

Black's coverage includes teen retailers and off-price store operators such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc, TJX Cos and Ross Stores.

Teen retailers likely benefited the most last month after a tough couple of months, he said.

Retailers selling clothes and catering to teens have been among the most challenged in the down economy, but easier comparisons to last year's dismal results alongside the Labor Day boost and back-to-school sales may provide a bit of a cushion.

Many retailers are expected to report same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, on Wednesday and Thursday.  Such sales are a key measure of performance of retailers and should provide some insight into how holiday sales may shape up this year.

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(Reuters photo)

Check out Walgreen's sales growth.

Walgreen Co, the largest U.S. drugstore chain, said on Friday that September sales at its stores open at least one year rose 5.3 percent, thanks to in-store flu vaccinations and people filling more 90-day prescriptions.

Sales of general merchandise, which consumers have been shying away from in past months, also rose for the first time since May for Walgreen.

Retailers began their seasonal flu vaccinations earlier than usual this year, amid raised awareness of the flu with the H1N1 pandemic. Pharmacy same-store sales rose 7 percent for Walgreen, with the number of prescriptions filled at existing stores jumping 12 percent, including 5.2 percentage points from pharmacists administering seasonal flu shots.

Walgreen, which administered 1.2 million seasonal flu vaccines in last year's flu season, has already given more than 2.4 million this season and aims to administer 5 million.

But not all drugstores have reported such growth.

Rite Aid said on Thursday that its same-store sales fell 0.3 percent in the four weeks ended Sept. 26. Its pharmacy same-store sales rose 0.7 percent, while general merchandise same-store sales fell 2.3 percent.

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Barbie, Beatles, guns to rule holiday toy roost

(Reuters photo)

As retailers gear up for the all-important holiday season, two industry veterans predicted what would be hot in toy land this year.

Looking at the 'hot toys" list from Jim Silver and Christopher Byrne of toy Web site TimetoPlayMag.com, it appears that even indulgent parents still don't want to pay too much for a toy -- with the exception of the Beatles Rock Band video game.

That could put pressure on toy makers and retailers who have been cutting down on inventory and focusing on making and selling affordable toys to please consumers.

The push may be vital, given the 2008 holiday season turned into one of the worst in nearly 40 years as the economic crisis bore down on shoppers.

The complete "hot toys" list includes:

Mattel's Barbie Fashionistas dolls, Rocky the Robot truck, and the tween Dora, Crayola's Crayon Town, Hasbro's Candy Land Sweet Celebration game, a Nerf blaster gun and Transformers Constructicon Devastator battle vehicle, Cepia's Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters, Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Helios playing cards and characters, MEGA brands' Battle Strikers, Techno Source's Printies, Spin Master's Air Hogs Switchblade flyer, Jakks Pacific Eyeclops Night Vision Goggles and Girl Gourmet Sweet Candy Jewelry Factory, Lego's Star Wars and the Beatles Rock Band video game.

(Photo/Reuters)

Check Out this slightly more optimistic holiday sales forecast.

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) said the 2009 U.S. holiday season is likely to be "a lot better" than last year, with sales rising roughly 1 to 2 percent.

The forecast, perhaps the most bullish yet, comes after a dismal 2008 holiday season that by some accounts was the worst in about 40 years.

Forecasts issued so far this year call for holiday sales to be flat to down versus last year, but some of those surveys use different methods for estimating sales.

The ICSC said holiday sales "in its many forms" -- same store sales or total sales -- could increase by about 1 percent to 2 percent, with sales at stores open at least one year rising 1 percent for the holiday shopping season of November and December.

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(Photo/Reuters)

J.C. Penney discounts are going mobile as the department store takes aim at younger, tech-savvy shoppers.

Just in time for the crucial holiday shopping season, the company is testing a discount program from Cellfire that will allow Penney's Houston-area shoppers to use their cell phones to download coupons that can be presented at checkout for savings.

The move comes as Penney gears up for the holiday shopping season -- a crucial sales period for department stores and other retailers.

"It's another way we're innovating to enhance the customer's shopping experience," Mike Boylson, the company's chief marketing officer said in a statement.

J.C. Penney's test currently is limited to the Houston metro area. A promotion on Cellfire's website reads: "Take $10 off a single purchase of $25 or more in store, jcp.com & catalog when you use your JCPenney card."

Cellfire's website also shows coupons for other area stores stores such as Sears and Kroger.

Shoppers who have downloaded Cellfire will have access to the same discounts that Penney sends via snail mail, and new offers will be available nearly every week. 

(Photo\Reuters)

It's that time of the year again.

Specialty toy retailer Toys "R" Us issued its take on what this holiday season's hot toys will be, as it prepares to attract toy shoppers one year after what was the worst holiday sales season in nearly 40 years.

This year, retailers and toy makers alike have focused keenly on prices, understanding that consumers may not be prepared to shell out hundreds of dollars for toys since caution rules their spending.

The Toys "R" Us list this year includes a mind-control game by Mattel called Mindflex, Disney's netbook Netpaland Hasbro's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Constructicon Devastator action figures.

But who knows what parents will choose this year as prices remain on top of their minds.

Here's Toys "R" Us' "Fabulous 15" in the group of 36 hot toys:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers New Vestroia Maxus Helios 7 in 1 from Spin Master
ChixOs Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master
Color Me a Song from Crayola Beginnings
Disney Netpal
Disney•Pixar Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures (Buzz and Woody) from Thinkway
Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel
Fast Lane JLX Over Drive Radio Control All Terrain Vehicle from Toys"R"Us
Laugh & Learn Learning Farm from Fisher-Price
Little Mommy Baby Ah-Choo from Fisher-Price
Mindflex from Mattel
NERF N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 from Hasbro
Star Wars Fan's Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from LEGO
Transformers;revenge of the Fallen Constructicon Devastator from Hasbro
Wii Sports Resort from Nintendo
Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster from Cepia

(Photo/Reuters)

Check Out eBay's steps toward becoming more environmentally friendly.

The online auctioneer announced its first greenhouse gas emissions reduction target on Monday, saying it has committed to a 15-percent cut to its corporate emissions by 2012, over a 2008 baseline.

EBay said it will achieve that target through continuing investments in renewable energy and promoting "sustainable" habits tied to the travel and personal energy use of its 15,000-strong workforce.

EBay said that as an online company, a majority of its carbon footprint comes from the energy used at its data centers.  So, tackling data management and infrastructure will be key to becoming more efficient.  To that end, the company will unveil a "green" data center in 2010.  EBay also said it will announce a fuel cell strategy in early 2010.

Among the initiatives taken by its employees -- a community garden project, participating in "National Cycle to Work" week and electronics recycling, with over 8,200 pounds of personal electronic equipment.

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(Photo: Reuters)

Check Out how Best Buy missed expectations.

The top U.S. consumer electronics retailer checked in with a lower-than-expected profit on Tuesday, as it still had trouble selling videogames and digital cameras to cautious shoppers.

Its profit fell to $158 million, or 37 cents per share in the second quarter that ended Aug. 29, from $202 million or 48 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding a tax impact, its profit was 40 cents a share, while analysts had expected Best Buy to post a profit of 41 cents per share.

The failure of Circuit City, which closed its doors early this year, has helped Best Buy gain market share in past months. But the latter's failure to meet profit expectations stood out in the broader retail sector, where several other companies have leaned on cost cuts and lower inventory to compensate for weak demand.

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(Photo/Reuters)

Check Out the competition in the mall.

As retailers tried to attract consumers for some post-Labor Day shopping, apparel retailers Aeropostale and Charlotte Russe beat Gap Inc's Old Navy chain in the pricing war this month, according to Eric Beder,  associate director of research for Brean Murray Carret & Co.

While Aeropostale has "never looked better" with its combination of good merchandise and prices, Arden B owner Wet Seal remains the "low price leader," Beder said.

Consumers have continued to seek lower prices for items like clothes and some surveys have predicted that although they might be willing to open up their wallets a little, they will still favor discounts as they draw up shopping lists ahead of the holiday season.

Another teen retailer Abercrombie, which usually has higher prices, may be realizing that consumers are likely staying cautious spenders and is offering more promotions, Beder said in  the research note.

And while Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters were using "strong fashions" to their advantage, Swedish apparel retailer H&M remains a top chain with low prices for fast fashion clothing and accessories, according to Beder.

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Check Out this prediction about Black Friday deals.

Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that typically kicks off the holiday shopping season, is known for some of the best discounts of the year, both in stores and on the Web.

And its never too early to think about deals, as illustrated by dealsnews.com, which has compiled a list of what it predicts will be the best holiday deals to emerge between mid-November and "Cyber Monday" -- the Monday after Thanksgiving when office workers go online en masse to shop for specials.

This year's list kicks of with expected deals on netbooks, which are inexpensive and compact laptops suited for basic computing and surfing the Internet.

Dealsnews predicted that a Linux-based netbook with 9-inch screen will be as cheap as $129, while pricier models would be "well-equipped" $399 netbooks with 15.4-inch screens.

If you are in the market for a flat-screen TV, the Web site predicted that you are likely to find an abundance of deals. TVs traditionally are one of the top-selling items around the holidays since retailers offer deep discounts on them. This year, a 40-inch or 42-inch LCD high-definition TV could be as cheap as $449 while the bigger brand-name one with 52-inch screen could be on the market for $1,049, the Web site showed.

The site also said shoppers should be able to snag good deals on Blu-ray players, and items like digital photo frames.

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(Photo/Reuters)