Marketing

Chicago -- RKF announced that Steve Schwartz and Lara Keene have joined the firm’s Chicago office as directors.

Schwartz and Keene, formerly of Baum Realty Group, mark the latest additions to the RKF Chicago office, which opened this past April as part of the firm’s ongoing expansion into key urban markets nationwide.
 
 

New York -- William Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, said that J.C. Penney Co. should start to see “real progress” in early 2013. Ackman made his comments in an interview Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Pershing Square owns about 18% of J.C. Penney.

New York -- Real estate advisory firm RCS Real Estate Advisors said Wednesday that it has been retained by teen retailer Delia’s to evaluate the performance of its real estate portfolio and serve as the outsourced real estate department for all retail locations. 

New York -- J.C. Penney appears to be relenting a bit on the strict non-promotional strategy launched by CEO Ron Johnson.

In a report on CNBC.com, Deutsche Bank analyst Charles Grom said the chain has added five "Best Price Friday" events to its calendar. The first took place the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and another is scheduled for Black Friday in November. Others may occur at peak sales times, according to Grom.

New York -- Levi Strauss & Co. promoted Joelle Mahler, senior VP of Americas Retail, to the new post of executive VP of the company, and president of global retail, effective immediately.

Mahler will be responsible for Levi’s retail operations worldwide, including company-owned, franchise and outlet stores, along with e-commerce.
 

Dallas -- Loyalty and marketing solution-provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the turnkey, marketing-driven private label credit card program for Gardner-White Furniture.

Gardner-White is a regional retailer of home furnishings, electronics, mattresses and accessories in the metro Detroit area.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the month of May increased 4.2% compared with the previous year. Revenue rose 4.1% to $2.02 billion.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Wednesday that CFO Mark Hood has resigned the company, effective June 11. Russ Hammer has been named the successor.

“I’m confident [Hammer] will be able to make an immediate contribution across the company and to the work we’ve been completing in our portfolio realignment efforts,” said Diane Sullivan, president and CEO.

Minneapolis -- Caribou Coffee Co. said Wednesday it has opened its 100th international operating location, located in Istanbul, Turkey. The new store, which opened May 10, is in partnership with master franchisee Al Sayer Group and Turkey's Yildiz Holding, and is Caribou's sixth store in Turkey.

Al Sayer Group currently operates 89 of Caribou's 100 international locations in Turkey, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has appointed president and CEO John Standley as chairman, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

Rite Aid announced that its board of directors had elected Standley to replace current chairman Mary Sammons, effective June 21. Sammons has served as chairman since June 2007 and plans to step down at the company's annual stockholder meeting.