Marketing

By Denise Lee Yohn, Deniseleeyohn.com

Apple has once again rewritten the rules of business.  Its request to trademark the “Distinctive Design & Layout” of its stores has been granted by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. And so, as unconventional as it may seem, the Apple store’s distinctive minimalist design and Genius Bar service are now as protected as the rounded corners and user interface of the company’s mobile devices.  

New York -- Barnes & Noble Inc. signed an employment agreement with CEO William Lynch to remain in his post for another two years, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lynch will receive the same compensation and benefits as before, but get an additional cash bonus of $1.8 million for his role in attracting investments from Microsoft Corp. and Pearson PLC in forming Nook Media LLC, according to a Reuters report.

A vocal minority continues to keeps Walmart at bay in New York where reports this week indicated the company has pulled back on expansion efforts there.

Walmart’s efforts in New York have been a series of fits and starts so to whatever degree the company has pulled back, don’t expect it to last. Walmart will be back and there waiting for it will be those ideologically opposed to anything Walmart does.

BURNABY, B.C. — Best Buy has named Ron Wilson as its new president and COO of its Canada operations, effective immediately. In this role, Wilson will lead the business in Canada under the Future Shop and Best Buy brands, including online.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Genesco, a specialty retailer of sports apparel and accessories reported fourth quarter earnings of $38.7 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, compared with earnings from continuing operations of $41.5 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

CINCINNATI — Dunnhumby Ltd.,an analyzer of brand value for consumer goods and retail companies, has hired Lung Huang, formerly of Arbitron, as VP digital advertising for global partnerships. In this newly created role, Huang will lead the company’s efforts to expand their integrated suite of solutions across media - both offline (traditional TV and print) and digital (online, mobile, social), across the globe. He will be based in New York City.

New York -- Leslie Dach, EVP corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, will step down in June. The retailer, which announced the news in a memo to employees, said it is actively searching for a replacement. The news was first reported by Politico.

"Leslie has played a pivotal role in helping us understand the broader role Walmart can play in meeting the major challenges facing society today, and social goals are now an integral part of how we run our business," Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke in the memo.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced two new locations for Nordstrom Rack, with stores planned for Chicago and Jacksonville, Fla.

In Jacksonville, Nordstrom Rack will open in The Markets at Town Center in Jacksonville, Fla. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2013.

The announcement follows recently announced plans to open a Nordstrom full-line store at St. Johns Town Center in fall 2014. Nordstrom currently operates nine full-line stores and eight Rack stores throughout Florida.

Wendy's is rolling out its updated image and new store environment to some 200 locations this year. Features include lounge seating, fireplaces and digital menuboards. The re-imaged restaurants have shown an average 25% increase in sales over the prior year.  Learn more.

Design and rebranding: Tesser, San Francisco

New York -- Foot Locker Inc. on Friday said its fourth quarter profit rose to $104 million from $81 million a year earlier.

Sales jumped 14% to $1.71 billion, including the benefit of an extra week. Same-store sales rose 7.9%.

For fiscal year 2012, which included 53 weeks, the company reported net income of $397 million, compared to $278 million a year earlier.

Total sales increased 9.9% in 2012 to $6.182 million, compared with sales of $5.623 million last year. Same-store sales were up 9.4% in 2012.