Finance & Capital Management

Irvine, Calif. -- Statistics released by The Retail Equation, gathered during the seven days after Christmas, revealed that the Midwest states had the highest rate of returns, when comparing total dollars purchased to total dollars returned and exchanged.

Supervalu has elected Gerald Storch as chair of its board of directors. The appointment comes after Robert Miller, who has chaired the boar since March 2013, announced his resignation.

New York -- Sales for the November-December holiday period increased 3.0%, based on a tally of monthly reporting firms compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers. The rise came despite the extreme weather across much of the United States during prime holiday shopping time, and a shortened holiday season.

Last year, Cedar Realty Trust shook off the last vestiges of its recession. Upon taking the reins of Cedar, new president and CEO Bruce Schanzer set in motion a short-term strategic plan in third quarter 2011. The plan was to sell nearly half of the company’s 140 properties owned in 2011 and streamline its property-type and geographic focus, while reducing leverage over the following two years. While the results for 2013 are being tallied now, performance during the first three quarters suggest a very good year of solid results.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the retail industry has supposedly settled a federal lawsuit with Visa and MasterCard over credit card swipe fees.

Albany, N.Y. -- Total sales for the nine-week holiday 2013 period at Trans World Entertainment Corporation were $115 million compared to $128 million for the same period last year, a decrease of 10.2%. The company operated an average of 5% fewer stores during the nine-week period as compared to last year.

Same-store sales for the nine-week period ended Jan. 4, 2014 decreased 6%.

Overstock has announced that it now accepts Bitcoin as a form of payment on its online shopping site.

When customers shop the website they will find the digital currency listed as a payment choice along with Visa, MasterCard and PayPal.

New York -- Former Barnes & Noble executive Jamie Iannone has been appointed president and CEO of Samsclub.com in a restructuring that integrates Sam’s Club’s online business into the Walmart’s Global eCommerce business unit based in California. Previously, most of the warehouse club’s online business was run separately out of the retailer’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.