Marketing

Digital talent is a hot topic among retail CEOs today — primarily, where to find enough talent to develop the organization’s “digital DNA” at every level and in every area of the business. With digital talent within retail in short supply, we now have to proactively go further afield — whether in travel, finance, the tech industry or elsewhere — to identify and woo the digital experts our companies need to grow.

Monroe, Mich. -- La-Z-Boy Incorporated announced the appointments of two executive officers. Doug Collier has been named senior VP of La-Z-Boy, chief marketing officer and president, international, and Darrell Edwards has been named senior VP of La-Z-Boy and chief supply chain officer.

Collier rejoined La-Z-Boy Incorporated in June 2007 after two years with Select Comfort as chief marketing officer and senior VP marketing. Prior to Select Comfort, Collier held various leadership positions at La-Z-Boy from 2002 through 2005.

Williams-Sonoma’s second quarter results may have met Wall Street expectations, but shares dropped nearly 12% as a result of the company’s weak guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 — which will include earnings from most of the back-to-school season.

For the quarter, the company posted net revenues of $1.04 billion, an almost 6% increase from $982 million a year ago. Total same-store sales increased 5.7%. Direct-to-customer revenues climbed 9.4%.

New York -- Gap is returning to television. The brand debuted four commercials that will air on TV, in cinema, in stores and online. Created by Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher, the films were created with Wieden+Kennedy New York as part of Gap's new marketing campaign, Dress Normal. The TV campaign launches in the United States and United Kingdom in the week of Sept. 1.

Soft traffic and promotional activity have continued to put Guess’ North American stores under pressure, but the retailer said it is encouraged by its North American online business, which soared 50% in the second quarter.

The company reported net earnings of $22 million, a 50.5% decrease compared to adjusted net earnings of $44.3 million for the year ago period, which prompted the retailer to cut its fiscal year outlook.

Sales for the quarter decreased 4.8% to $608.6 million, from $639 million a year ago. Same-store sales decreased 5.4%.

Tampa, Fla. -- Hyde Park Village and Art Production Fund will present a public installation by Jessica Craig-Martin, consisting of 46 banners on display at the Tampa luxury retail locale. These public art works will be the first in a series of outdoor exhibitions, and will be on view at Hyde Park Village beginning Sept. 19.

San Jacinto, Calif. -- Circle K Stores, Inc. has broken ground on its newest flagship prototype in Southern California, a 4,500-sq.-ft. convenience store offering fresh food, a gas station with eight fuel pumps, and a self-serve state-of-the-art carwash. The combo concept, located in the city of Jacinto, is expected to be open for business in late 2014.

San Francisco – Williams-Sonoma Inc. reported that its third quarter income rose 4% to $50.7 million from $48.9 million in the year-ago period, in line with forecasts. But the retailer issued a disappointing outlook for the current quarter.

Second quarter net revenues grew 6% to $1.04 billion, from $982 million in the year-ago period.

Total same-store sales increased 5.7%. Direct-to-customer revenues grew 9.4%.