Retail Roundup: Kingsbury Crowned CEO of Burlington, Sales Since Cyber Monday Up 9 Percent, More

Kingsbury crowned CEO of Burlington --- Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. has a new CEO, plucked straight from the racks of Kohl's. Thomas A. Kingsbury served as CEO of May Department Stores' Filene's division before joining Kohl's to oversee e-commerce, marketing, and business development. Now at Burlington, Kingsbury replaces outgoing CEO Mark Nesci, who is retiring. His minimum annual base salary is set at $850,000. [Source: internetretailer]

Sales since Cyber Monday up 9 percent over 2007 -- While Cyber Monday's sales figures proved far from dazzling, the following days made up for the lag as holiday e-commerce sales finally caught up with last year's. Two workdays within the first week of December had consumers spending more than $800 million online, and sales since Cyber Monday are up 9 percent compared with last year. "The online holiday shopping season has picked up noticeably since Thanksgiving as consumers have given in to the holiday spirit -- and very attractive retailer discounts," said Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore, which compiled the information. [Source: comScore]

Fewer apparel suppliers sending goods to U.S. -- The number of apparel suppliers shipping merchandise to the U.S. fell by a dramatic 85 percent in the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, according to a report by Panjiva Inc., a New York-based firm that helps brands evaluate factories. In October of 2007, 43,653 apparel suppliers shipped to the U.S.; a year later, that figure had been whittled down to 6,262. [Source: WWD]

Low gas prices good for Wal-Mart -- Declining gas prices have helped increase sales at the world's largest retailer over the past several months. The chain is concentrated most heavily in Midwestern and Southern states, regions where gas prices have fallen as much as 60 percent. "The low-income shopper is taking [the cash he or she is saving thanks to low gas prices] and putting things back on the table that they'd taken off, like bacon or ice cream," said Candace Corlett, principal of WSL Strategic Retail. [Source: Advertising Age]