Marketing

Houston -- Starbucks Coffee Co. founder and CEO Howard Schultz said his company plans to add 1,000 stores in the U.S. in the next five years, according to a Bloomberg report.

New York -- The Wet Seal Inc. encouraged its shareholders on Wednesday to reject efforts by its third-largest investor, Clinton Group, to gain control of the board, Reuters reported. The company's board has eight seats, of which one is vacant.

Clinton, which holds approximately 7% of Wet Seal, said retailer earlier in the day backtracked on an offer, made via an investment banker, for four directors to resign in exchange for the activist investor ending its move, according to the report.

Li Ning, one of China’s largest marketers of sports apparel, footwear and equipment, has opened a flagship in Beijing with a bold design that  uses the theme of motion to attract and engage shoppers. A strong angular grid pattern is present throughout the store—in the ceilings, lighting and floor pattern — that creates an impression of non-stop movement. The theme is most visible on the sweeping lines of the four-story façade, which features a massive banner with changeable imagery.

NEW YORK — JCPenney has partnered with baby retailer Giggle to launch specialty shops in more than 500 JCPenney shops. 

Branded as giggleBABY, the new baby ships will open in fall 2013 and feature nursery, gear, layette, bedding, toys, and gifts. An expanded selection of giggleBABY products will be available on JCP.com.

FREMONT, Calif. — Men's Wearhouse is partnering with The Knot Wedding Network, a popular wedding resource, to become the tuxedo provider of choice on TheKnot.com. 

Through the exclusive arrangement, brides-to-be will have the opportunity to view and interact with Men's Wearhouse brand-name tuxedo merchandise at an early stage of the wedding planning process.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ecologic Brands, makers of America’s first molded paper bottles, has named Alan Murray, CEO of NextFoods and Dr. Steve Miller, chief innovation catalyst at P&G, to its advisory board.

3M has announced a realignment of its major business groups to better serve global markets and customers, effective immediately.

The new structure will be comprised of five business groups: Consumer (2011 sales of $4.2 billion), Industrial ($9.6 billion), Health Care ($5.0 billion) and two newly formed business groups: Safety & Graphics ($5.5 billion), and Electronics & Energy ($5.7 billion). Previously, the company operated six segments.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fast Retailing will open its first West Coast Uniqlo flagship store in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco.

Silicon Valley companies paved the way for corporate America to offer non-traditional workplace amenities and now Target has joined their ranks.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café said Wednesday it has named Gary Price as president of the chain.