Content about C-Suite

September 26, 2011
Retail CFOs expect 3% increase in total 2011 sales, M&A activity rises

Amid economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence levels, retail CFOs are expecting a 3% increase in total 2011 sales, according to a recent survey by BDO USA.

September 2, 2011
Costco’s Best Weapon

The retail world will lose one of its most colorful and respected CEOs when Costco Wholesale Club co-founder and chief executive Jim Sinegal steps down on January 1, 2012.

August 23, 2011
Retail Shuffle

It’s not easy keeping up with the comings and goings of retail executives these days. Every day seems to bring a change at -- or near -- the top. Hot-off-the-wire is the news that David Campisi, president and CEO of Sports Authority president and CEO, has suddenly resigned after just 17 months in the position. He will be replaced on an interim president by Darrell Webb, currently chairman and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores!

July 22, 2011
Mike Boylson: From J.C. Penney to Baseball!

J.C. Penney marketing chief Mike Boylson is trading the retail game for another type of game entirely: baseball.

July 13, 2011
Microsoft Talks Up the Future

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) is taking place this week (July 10 – 14) in Los Angeles, with some 15,000 from around the globe in attendance at the Staples Center. It’s a huge event, with over 100 breakout sessions each day, 22 regional keynotes and country breakouts. To kick-off the show, CEO Steve Ballmer said that, thanks to partners, Windows 7 has sold more than 400 million licenses in less than two years, and is still the fastest-selling operating system in history.

Here are some  other interesting tidbits from the conference:

June 30, 2011
Congratulations rue21!

Teen apparel retailer rue21 is celebrating the opening of its 700th store, in New Braunfels, Texas. The chain is on track to open 110 locations this year.

Commented president and CEO Bob Fisch: “We remain one of the fastest growing retailers in the nation. I would like to thank our real estate, construction and field teams and recognize their hard work, which allows us to celebrate another significant milestone for rue21."

Click here for past C-Suite entries.

June 30, 2011
Getting to the Core of Apple

Apple runs a really tight ship. That’s the takeaway of a recent Wall Street Journal article that used confidential Apple store training materials and interviews with current and former store associates to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the tech-giant’s store operations.

June 10, 2011
Gap going value

“The economic model of Outlet is the highest return on capital and is where customers gravitate," Gap CEO Glenn Murphy said at an investment conference in New York City, where he revealed the company will close 200 U.S. Gap stores and expand its outlet base.

June 6, 2011
Fair Warning

Thinking of opening a store on Manhattan’s Fifth Ave? Be prepared to shell out some hefty rent. The average rent for space along Fifth Avenue’s prime stretch from 49th Street up to 59th Street hit $1,900 per square foot in the first quarter, according to the latest CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Global Retail MarketView.

The second-highest U.S. retail market? Los Angeles, with rents of $520 per square foot.

June 3, 2011
Speaking of Customers

“The world has changed a lot since my parents first shopped at Walmart; so have people and how they live. Our Next Generation Customer will include millions who are striving to join the emerging global middle class. They’re from the countryside around Punjab, India and the blue-collar suburbs of Sao Paulo, Brazil. They’re in the big cities -- from the wards of Chicago to the boroughs of New York City. They’re connected to the world through smartphones and social media. They’re in charge of when they shop and how they shop.”

May 18, 2011
Fascinating Read: 'Force of Nature'

With a subtitle of “The Unlikely Story of Wal Mart’s Green Revolution,” this book, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Edward Humes, is a must-read for anyone who remains doubtful that going green can actually be profitable.

May 12, 2011
It’s not the economy. Or the cost-cutting.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told Britain’s Sky.com that the chain’s focus on improving its offerings and encouraging innovation as opposed to cost-cutting and store-closings are the reasons for its turnaround.

“You can’t “cut your way to prosperity,” Schultz said. “You have to create growth and opportunity.”

May 12, 2011
Organic growth best for increasing market share

Organic growth initiatives come out on top (46%) when it comes to how to increase market share, followed by a mix of organic growth and M&A (22%) and primarily M&A (22%), according to a survey of 152 senior financial executives of global retail companies by KPMG International.

© 2013