Marketing

New York -- As new CEO Ron Johnson works to transition the “old” J.C. Penney into a new era filled with shop-in-shops, he and his team have devised a way to keep the store looking fresh during the changeover: they use a lot of mannequins.

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Ridgefield, Conn. -- Schimenti Construction announced it has completed an expansion of its company headquarters in Ridgefield, Conn., doubling the size of the space from 10,000 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft.

The expansion also includes a redesign of the main floor with the creation of a new reception area. A new executive conference room has been added on the first floor, as well as new waiting areas on both floors. A training space has been incorporated into the new design and a new employee café features a Starbucks coffee bar.

ATLANTA — Home Depot has added Samsung to its portfolio of leading appliance brands, which already includes Whirlpool, LG, GE, GE Profile, Maytag, Frigidaire, Electrolux and Adora.

The home improvement retailer will carry Samsung appliances at its more than 2,000 stores nationwide and online beginning Sunday, December 9.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pitney Bowes has appointed Marc B. Lautenbach as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Lautenbach succeeds Murray D. Martin, who is retiring as the company’s chairman, president and CEO and has resigned from the company’s board of directors.

Martin will continue to work with Lautenbach, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the technology and business services industry in senior leadership positions at IBM, on an effective transition.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Former Belk executive Carl Scibetta has been named the new EVP and GMM at Shoe Carnival. Scibetta will report to Cliff Sifford, the former GMM, who was recently appointed president and CEO of the company.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples and LinkedIn have teamed up to launch SUCCEED: Small Business Network, an online forum for small business professionals.

Broomfield, Colo. -- Mrs. Fields Cookies said Tuesday it will open a new location at Arista Place, located in Broomfield, Colo.

The flagship store, which is slated to launch construction this month, will feature a new store design and branding. It is expected to open in March 2013.

The new design, said the company, will incorporate more soft seating and a retail area for ordering cookie gifts online. The corporate location will also serve as the company’s training university for new franchisees.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- HSN announced Tuesday it has appointed Karen Etzkorn to the newly created position of chief information officer of HSNi, effective Jan. 3.

Etzkorn is charged with overseeing all aspects of information technology for HSNi's two operating segments -- HSN and Cornerstone.

Etzkorn was most recently senior VP and CIO for Ascena Retail. Prior to that, she was senior VP and CIO at Tween Brands and has also held senior technology roles at The Home Depot, Williams-Sonoma, Gap and Limited.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Less than six months after joining Family Dollar, Tammy L. DeBoer has been named SVP of food.

DeBoer will report to Paul White, EVP and CMO at the rapidly growing discount retailer. This latest appointment comes as the retailer has taken steps to position itself as a one-stop destination for shoppers with expanded assortments of food and consumables.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Convenience Stores has named Paige Anderson as its director of government relations.

Anderson has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, and has particular expertise in energy policy and cyber-security. She most recently served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, the outgoing U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district.