Back to School

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- To help provide needy children under the age of 12 with backpacks and supplies as they head back to school, Shaw's Supermarkets here is collaborating with Quincy, Mass.-based nonprofit charity Cradles to Crayons and radio stations throughout New England for a collection drive at all 215 Shaw's and Star Market stores in the region. Shaw's and Cradles to Crayon are partnering with CBS Radio in the Boston area.

WASHINGTON -- While most back-to-college categories, like clothing and dorm furnishings, will see modest gains this year, the season will continue to grow due to an incredible increase in electronics spending, according to the fourth annual NRF 2006 Back-to-College Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch.

WASHINGTON -- While most back-to-college categories, like clothing and dorm furnishings, will see modest gains this year, the season will continue to grow due to an incredible increase in electronics spending, according to the fourth annual NRF 2006 Back-to-College Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch.

ALEIGH, S.C. -- Chain pharmacy Kerr Drug here yesterday opened SmartCare Family Medical Centers at three of its stores in South Carolina.

ALEIGH, S.C. -- Chain pharmacy Kerr Drug here yesterday opened SmartCare Family Medical Centers at three of its stores in South Carolina.

ALEIGH, S.C. -- Chain pharmacy Kerr Drug here yesterday opened SmartCare Family Medical Centers at three of its stores in South Carolina.

PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle here and Santa Ana, Calif.-based Dress For Success Cleaners (DFS), the only national provider of in-store dry cleaning services for supermarkets, have launched the second annual "Klothes For Kids" community-based back-to-school clothes drive for needy children.

NEW YORK -- After mixed results in June, big-box retailers Wal-Mart, Costco, Target, and BJ's Wholesale Club all saw growth in same-store sales, with a powerful assist from food, back-to-school items, and pharmacy, among other items. The only hiccup was that Costco's 3.1 percent same-store sales increase was smaller than expected -- but the warehouse club store chain still expects to meet or exceed analysts' second-quarter profit prediction of 69 cents per share.