McCurry honored for
contributions to Sears
 Joe
McCurry, chair of the MRA Executive Committee, was recognized for his
more than 35 years of service to Sears, Roebuck and Co. and his
contributions to the African American Network at Sears.
McCurry was honored at a Michigan Retailers Association
board meeting shortly after his retirement from Sears on January 31. Ron
Batey, store general manager for Sears in Waterford, presented him with
a framed print by artist Samuel Akainyah.
The resolution honoring McCurry cited his management philosophy
based on “integrity, bold thinking and teamwork” and his “courage,
determination, conviction and decisiveness” in guiding the development
of the African American Network at Sears.
Thirty-six Kalamazoo area retailers were honored
by the Kalamazoo County Teen Network for Tobacco Control for their efforts
to prevent underage smoking. The Teen Network works with three other teen
groups and Kalamazoo police to conduct compliance checks by having local
high school students attempt to purchase tobacco products at area stores.
The retailers were recognized for refusing to sell to
minors as well as for placing all tobacco products behind the counter,
requiring photo ID for purchases and training employees on tobacco sales.
Vogelzang Hardware is moving from its downtown
Holland location to a new site on Chicago Drive, which is expected to
open in July. The 80-year-old store, which has been located in the same
downtown building for 60 years, cleared out excess merchandise by holding
an auction.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the world’s largest
company, surpassing Exxon Mobil Corp. on the Fortune 500 list, which is
based on 2001 revenue. It’s the first retailer to make the top spot.
Michigan retailers in the Fortune 500 are Kmart Corp.,
based in Troy, at #40; grocery chain Spartan Stores, based in Grand Rapids,
which made the list for the first time at #449; and bookstore chain Borders
Group, based in Ann Arbor, at #461.
The family behind the world’s largest company has
made the largest contribution ever to a public university in the U.S.
- $300 million to the University of Arkansas. The donation from the Walton
Family Charitable Support Foundation will establish an undergraduate honors
college and help support the graduate school.
The university’s business school was named for Wal-Mart
founder Sam Walton after a $50 million gift from the family in 1998. Two
of Walton’s sons are alumni of the University of Arkansas.
JCPenney celebrates its 100th year in business
in 2002. The chain was founded by James Cash Penney in Kemmerer, Wyoming,
and now operates 1,080 stores and 2,650 Eckerd drugstores. The oldest
JCPenney store in Michigan is the downtown Lapeer location, which opened
in 1917.
CVS/pharmacy raised more than $500,000 this year
in the National Colon Cancer Awareness Campaign, $500,000 this year in
the National Colon Cancer Awareness Campaign, sponsored by the National
Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Colorectal Cancer Research
Alliance. CVS and other pharmacy chains sold paper Caring Star icons to
customers to raise funds for research on colon cancer.
Amazon.com posted a net profit for the first time
ever in the 4th Quarter of 2001, aided by extensive cost-cutting during
the year. The pioneering Internet retailer beat its own forecasts by earning
$5 million on $1.12 billion in sales for the quarter, compared to a loss
of $545 million on $972 million in sales in 4th Quarter 2000.
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