Wal-Mart, Sears top list of best retailers

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has named jewelry-dispensing outlets Wal-Mart and Sears, Roebuck and Co. among its top 100 retailers of 2004, citing their ability to embrace change amid a rapidly-changing retail landscape.

Stores, NRF's monthly magazine, released its "2005 Triversity Top 100 Retailers" report Tuesday, an annual list published in its July issue ranking companies by revenue. In the top slot was Wal-Mart with its $288.19 billion in annual sales (according to NRF), representing 11.4 percent in growth over 2003. Wal-Mart has proved its flexibility of late, introducing big-ticket diamond jewelry to the online offerings of the company's Sam's Club division

"This past year shook up the retail industry," Stores Publisher and NRF Vice President Rick Gallagher said in Tuesday's release. "Stores are looking for unique ways to expand their product lines in an effort to differentiate themselves. Retailers are no longer just competing with other stores in their segment—they are competing with everyone, making the environment extremely challenging."

At ninth place, Sears was the only department store to fall within the Stores report's top 10. Sears, too, has demonstrated its bent toward change following its recent merger with Kmart. Company officials have cited one effect of the deal as being Sears' shift away from mall stores, and toward expansion of their off-mall Sears Grand format through Kmart conversions.