International Business

Smart & Final Stores Inc. is shuffling the membership of its board of directors. The discount grocer has elected Paul N. Hopkins and Kenneth I. Tuchman to the board.

Hopkins is the former chairman of the board of directors of insurance company Farmers Group Inc. and CEO of its Americas operations, including Latin America and shared services operations. 

Another global fashion retailer has made its U.S. debut.

Tokyo-based Tomorrowland , which has a cult following in its home country,  has opened a store in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. The retailer, which operates some 160 stores in Japan, is known for its cool fashions, upmarket prices and sleek, minimalist ambience.

The 3,200-sq.-ft. store features the brand’s exclusive men’s and women’s collections, along with a curated selection from several contemporary labels.  

Toys“R”Us has looked to a Loreal veteran to take over its human resources division.

The retailer announced that it has named Tim Grace as executive vice president, global chief talent officer, effective immediately. In this role, the company says Grace will oversee all global human resources functions, including organizational design, talent acquisition, succession planning, learning, change management and labor and employee relations, as well as compensation and benefits. He will report to Dave Brandon, Chairman and CEO, Toys“R”Us, Inc.

New York -- Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, was named “Retailer of the Year” at the World Retail Awards gala dinner in Rome, Italy.

New York -- eBay is about to launch a shipping club that seems somewhat fashioned after Amazon Prime — but it’s not starting out in the United States.

The company will debut its shipping program in Germany, The Street reported. Called eBay Plus, it will reportedly cost 19.90 euros (about $22) a year and will allow buyers to receive certain orders within two days plus free returns.

Markdowns and the costs of expansion hurt Lululemon profits in the second quarter, but the athleisure retailer did post an impressive jump in same store sales.

Foster City, Calif. – Financial services provider Visa Inc. is among the lead investors in a $30 million round of equity funding for a blockchain technology provider.

Kip Tindell, co-founder, chairman and CEO of The Container Store, has joined a global list of who’s who in retailing.