Finance & Capital Management

San Jose, Calif. – Consumers appear to have been feeling a seasonal hangover after what some analysts have called a relatively strong 2014 holiday season. According to the monthly Retail Performance Pulse for January 2015 from RetailNext, store sales and traffic both declined 7.7%

Coach Inc. has added a luxury retail veteran to its board of directors.

“We are extremely pleased that Andrea Guerra has agreed to join our board,” said Victor Luis, CEO at Coach Inc. “As Coach continues its transformation into a modern luxury lifestyle brand, Andrea's extensive exposure to a wide variety of best-in-class brands and his broad retail and international experience will prove valuable to our team."

It's official: The long-struggling RadioShack has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The 94-year-old retailer made its filing in  U.S.

Profit for rent-to-own giant Aaron’s, which has struggled with declining foot traffic and sluggish sales, fell 35% for 2014 and about 2.75% in the fourth quarter of last year.

San Francisco -- Delivery Agent, whose technology allows television viewers to engage with and buy directly from advertisements and television shows via web, mobile, and advanced television applications, has tapped board member James Peters as president and COO. Peters previously held key leadership roles at Office Depot, Staples and Ross Stores.

Atlanta -- Rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s saw its profit drop 35% in 2014 amid declining traffic and weak sales. The company, which operates some 2,100 stores, was also impacted by hurt by various charges related to restructuring and the acquisition of Progressive Leasing.

Aaron’s reported net earnings of $78.2 million for 2014, compared to $120.7 million in 2013.

Coach's efforts to regain its upscale brand identity received a boost this month with the addition of a veteran luxury goods retailer to its board of directors.

“We are extremely pleased that Andrea Guerra has agreed to join our board,” said Victor Luis, CEO at Coach Inc. “As Coach continues its transformation into a modern luxury lifestyle brand, Andrea's extensive exposure to a wide variety of best-in-class brands and his broad retail and international experience will prove valuable to our team."

Los Angeles -- BH Properties, a Los Angeles-based firm that specializes in acquiring and repositioning challenged or distressed commercial real estate properties, has announced the promotion of Steven Jaffe to chief investment officer and principal of the firm. In this role, Jaffe is responsible for overseeing the acquisition and disposition strategy of the company as well as the company’s overall growth.

Jaffe has been with BH Properties for 11 years, previously holding the title of executive VP and general counsel.