International Business

Mumbai, India – Alibaba may not be the only large Asian e-commerce retailer selling shares in the U.S, stock market. Leading Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart is reportedly considering launching a $5 billion U.S. IPO.

Vancouver – Dennis “Chip” Wilson, founder of Lululemon Athletica inc. is stepping down from Lululemon's board of directors. Wilson, who founded Lululemon in 1998, led the company through many business cycles as he expanded it from a small storefront in Vancouver to an international brand with over 250 stores.

Framingham, Mass. – The TJX Companies Inc. has named William H. Swanson to the board of directors. Swanson, 65, is the former chairman and CEO of Raytheon Co., a technology and innovation company specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world.

Target may not have been very successful in Canada, but the retailer has an altogether different strategy for the United States, where it will open 15 stores in 2015.

Target says it plans to open more small store formats than suburban big box stores this year.

The Minneapolis-based retailer will bring its smallest store, TargetExpress, which at 20,000 square feet is about a sixth of the size of its traditional big box stores, to two more metropolitan areas this year with one store slated for Chicago and two for the Washington, D.C., area.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. –  As part of a 2014 announcement in which Sears Holdings Corp. said it had entered into lease agreements with European fashion retailer Primark for seven standalone stores in the Northeastern United States, the retailer said that two of these seven locations will be at Danbury Fair in Danbury, Connecticut; and Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, New Jersey.  

Lands’ End, an apparel brand known for its casual style, may be looking to go in a more luxurious direction after announcing its new CEO.

The company said its new CEO will be Federica Marchionni, who was president of Dolce & Gabbana USA Inc. She will also join the company’s board. She will succeed Edgar Huber, who is resigning from the company on Feb. 17.

Huber led the retailer through its separation from Sears Holding Corp. in April as Sears sought to focus on its core assets.

Los Angeles -  Fast-fashion giant Forever 21 is on the fast-track, with plans to open 600 stores over the next three years. To help support its rapid growth, the retailer is using Oracle Retail solutions.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has named Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as executive VP and global chief legal and administrative officer. In this role, Pagni will oversee all global legal affairs for Walgreens Boots Alliance and its divisions, including strategy and mergers and acquisitions, working with acting CEO Stefano Pessina.