Finance & Capital Management

Watch out Hallmark. A popular British greeting card  and stationery brand has designs on the U.S. market.   Paperchase is planning to open two freestanding stores in the United States next year, both in Chicago, The Telegraph reported.         Currently, the brand supplies Target and Staples with private-label greeting cards.      

The Woodmont Company has hired Pendleton Mills real estate executive John Geddis to handle leasing at the firm’s growing outlet center portfolio. His title will be senior VP of brokerage services.   Geddis gained extensive experience on both the owner and tenant sides of the business in a 20-year career, with stints at Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties, as well as Samsonite. At Pendeton, he oversaw development for the company’s 50 owned retail and outlet locations.  

The watch and fashion accessories brand Fossil Group is planning to reorganize its business.   The company, which operates 610 stores across the globe (including 284 U.S. locations) will close some stores, although it did not say how many, the Dallas News reported, as part of a multi-year business overhaul that also includes a focus on fewer products.    

Starbucks Corp. is feeling its oats.   The coffee giant topped estimates for its fourth quarter and gave a positive view for its current fiscal year.   Starbucks’ consolidated net revenue grew 16% to $5.8 billion in its fourth quarter, which was better than expected.   

On the heels of the announcement that Walter Robb would step down as co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, more changes may be in store the grocery chain.   One of Whole Food’s 10 largest shareholders has met with potential activist investors explore making major changes to the retail, including replacing management and exploring a sale of the company, Bloomberg reported.

Because of the tone and tenor of the presidential campaign, lots of folks might be surprised to learn there are many other significant races going on across the country. These so-called “down-ballot” elections for governors’ offices, U.S. House and Senate seats, state legislatures and other offices may hold the real clues for what the next four years entail for employers, no matter who wins the White House. Believe it or not, there are substantive candidates actually discussing substantive kitchen table issues that impact families and communities.

China’s sluggish economy didn’t stop Alibaba from increasing revenue by 55% for the September quarter.  

There’s going to be change in the leadership structure at Whole Foods Market that will leave founder John Mackey as the sole CEO of the company.   Walter Robb, a 25-year Whole Foods veteran, is stepping down as co-CEO of the chain, effective Dec. 31. Robb, who has shared the CEO title with Mackey for six years, will remain on the board of directors and continue to serve as a senior advisor to the company and as chairman of the Whole Kids Foundation and Whole Cities Foundation.