News Briefs

Bealls Inc. has added new talent to its leadership team.

The family-owned department store chain has named David N. Brown as its new VP of stores. In the role, he will lead store operations across several regions nationwide, supporting the company’s “continued growth and operational excellence.”

Brown has more than 25 years of experience in the retail industry. Most recently, he served as regional VP with Ross Dress for Less for 14 years, where his regions led the company in shrink results and consistently ranked as a top performer in both sales and contribution, according to Bealls Inc. Previously, Brown spent nearly 12 years at Target as a district team leader.

“We are excited to welcome Dave to the Bealls team,” said Gil Vogler, senior VP of stores & operations. “Dave’s authentic and humble leadership style is a perfect fit for our culture. His ability to build high-performing teams, drive operational efficiencies, and successfully build and execute strategic initiatives will be instrumental as Bealls continues to expand into new markets.”

[READ MORE: Bealls becomes first national retailer to accept all crypto wallets]

Headquartered in Bradenton, Fla., Bealls Inc. operates more than 650 retail stores in 22 states under the names Bealls, Bealls Florida and Home Centric. The retailer’s assortment includes apparel, footwear, accessories, home decor and more.

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Alchemy surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. consumers in partnership with CCS Insights.

When it comes to relevant marketing content, consumers are expecting more from brands – even the ones that they are loyal to.

According to a new survey from Optimove Insights, 71% of loyal consumers visit brands they favor daily or weekly. Still, 81% expect those brands to actively send relevant deals and reminders. 

While customers initiate engagement independently, they expect brands to reinforce that relationship with “timely and meaningful communication,” according to Optimove Insights.

While marketing is key for engaging consumers, brands doing so excessively can be costly. More than half (55%) of consumers report switching brands multiple times due to marketing bombardment, while an additional 24% have considered switching. By contrast, nearly eight-in-10 (79%) consumers say brands that send fewer but more targeted messages earn their loyalty faster. 

Three-quarters (76%) of consumers pre-determine where they will shop at least half of the time, per the survey. Meanwhile, more than half (51%) try new brands only 25% of the time or less. While 46% of consumers visit a new brand weekly, nearly six-in-10 (58%) purchase from a new site only once per month or never. 

[READ MORE: Here’s how brands can drive loyalty via the supply chain]

“In today’s environment, loyalty is not emotional affinity alone; it is behavioral economics,” said Pini Yakuel, founder and CEO of Optimove. “Consumers reward brands that respect their time and attention with relevance. When communication is accurate and intentional, loyalty becomes a revenue multiplier. But when brands default to messaging volume, they accelerate churn. The brands that win will be those that orchestrate every interaction with context and discipline.”

Optimove Insights’ findings are based on a Q4 2025 online survey of 1,034 U.S. consumers aged 18 and up.

Ashley Stewart have secured financing to support growth initiatives under its new owners. 

Tiger Finance has provided a $15 million revolving credit facility to the plus-size women’s apparel brand, which was founded in Brooklyn in 1991 and operates 72 stores nationwide and an e-commerce site. The financing enhances the company's liquidity position and will support ongoing growth initiatives under new ownership.

The capital infusion follows the recent acquisition by G Ashley Inc. of Ashley Stewart's assets through a UCC Article 9 sale, which allows for a foreclosure sale after a default. The new capital will support inventory procurement, supply chain continuity and omnichannel initiatives designed to improve both customer experience and margin performance.

“This revolving line of credit strengthens the company's near-term liquidity profile and supports a disciplined restructuring process," said Andy Babcock, senior managing director, Tiger Finance. "Our facility is designed to provide Ashley Stewart with the working capital flexibility needed to stabilize operations and position the brand for improved profitability. Our experience in retail and consumer strategic realignment gives us strong conviction in supporting businesses with durable brand equity and clear paths to operational improvement. Ashley Stewart fits that profile well."

Added Sarika Gupta, CFO of Ashley Stewart: "This partnership underscores Ashley Stewart's longstanding resilience and ability to reinvent itself through changing retail cycle”

“With added liquidity, the brand will accelerate ongoing transformation initiatives while staying true to its mission of serving and uplifting curvy women,” Gupta continued.

Burlington Stores is further expanding its footprint in the Big Apple – this time inside of a landmark retail building.

The off-price retailer will open a new flagship store in the upscale Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan this spring. Housed in the historic Siegel-Cooper Building, the new store will span two floors, and feature Burlington’s “reimagined and more elevated shopping experience,” along with a custom store design inspired by classic NYC iconography.

Burlington will join other off-price giants TJ Maxx and Marshall’s as tenants in the Siegel-Cooper building. The opening will mark Burlington's 74th store in New York state, and fifth in the borough of Manhattan.

Siegel-Cooper, and Co. opened what was at the time the largest department store in the world in 1897, taking up the entire block from 18th to 19th on 6th Avenue in Manhattan. The building was well known for its ornate architecture and massive scale.

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Headquartered in New Jersey, Burlington Stores Inc. operated more than 1,200 stores in 46 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico at the end of its most recent fiscal quarter. At Burlington stores, guests can find fashion-focused women’s apparel, menswear, youth apparel, beauty products, decor and more at prices up to 60% lower than other retailers.

Jeff Kreshek, a 15-year veteran of Federal Realty, one of the nation’s longest established REITs, has gotten a promotion.

Kreshek has been named as an executive VP at the company, which owns and operates mixed-use properties and shopping centers such as Assembly Row in Boston and Grossmont Center in the San Diego metro.

Since assuming the role of the company’s West Coast President in 2023, he has overseen a near 8 million-square-foot portfolio of centers in California and Arizona. 

"Jeff's leadership has helped shape the strength and reputation of our West Coast portfolio," said Federal CEO Don Wood. "He brings a rare combination of vision and operational discipline across the industry.”

Prior to joining Federal, Kreshek served as the leasing principal at The CIM Group and has served as an adjunct professor of retail development at the University of Southern California for the last 22 years.