International Business

There’s a lot going on at the company formerly known as Quiksilver.    In a new phase of its turnaround, the company has changed its name to Boardriders, a name designed to reflect the company’s portfolio of action sports brands — Quiksilver, ROXY, and DC Shoes — which are unified by the boardriding culture and heritage.    

More luxury stores opened in London in 2016 than any other city in the world.   The British capital topped the global ranking for new luxury retail store openings in 2016, according to Savills Global Luxury Retail report.    The city saw a total of 41 luxury store openings during the year, (of which 15 were the respective brand’s first ever store in London), followed by Paris, with 36 openings, and New York, with 31. Rounding out the top five were Dubai (31), Hong Kong (25) and Milan (24).  

A new innovation lab is primed to benefit one of the top players in China’s e-commerce marketplace.   Zebra Technologies, Digital China and Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, which Walmart owns a 12% stake in, have joined forces to develop a state-of-the art facility entitled the "IoT + E-commerce Logistics Lab.”   

Lands’ End has a new person at the top.   Jerome Griffith has officially taken the reins as CEO of the company, and also joined the board of directors. He succeeds Joseph Boitano and James Gooch, who have served as co-interim CEOs since September 2016, when CEO Federica Marchionni was forced out after less than two years amid an ongoing sales slump.  

Ross Stores continues to maintain an aggressive store expansion strategy.   The retailer recently opened 23 Ross Dress for Less stores and five dd's Discounts stores across 15 different states in February and March. The new locations are part of the company's plans to add approximately 70 Ross stores and 20 dd's locations during 2017.  

Aldi is ready to introduce its brand to price-sensitive Chinese shoppers.   The German discount supermarket chain plans to start selling online in China this month, a move that will expose Chinese consumers to a selection of German wine, snacks and breakfast products, Reuters reported.    

Saks Fifth Avenue is adding to its store fleet up north.   On Thursday, March 9, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open two new locations in the greater Toronto area,      “This month marks our one year anniversary of entering the Canadian market, and we’re excited to continue our Canadian expansion with two new stores in the GTA,” said Jonathan Greller, president, Saks Off 5th and Gilt.   

Equity One CEO David Lukes has accepted the chief executive’s position at DDR Corp., it has been announced in a press release from DDR. Equity One was acquired by Regency Centers in November to form the largest REIT focused on shopping center development.   Two of Luke’s lieutenants at Equity One will join him in leading the Beachwood, Ohio-based company. COO Michael Makinen and CFO Matthew Ostrower will perform the same roles at DDR.