Marketing

PLANO, Texas — J. C. Penney has promoted Brynn Evanson to EVP of human resources. Evanson will lead all HR functions across stores, supply chain and the home office, including team member relations, recruiting, learning and development, compensation and benefits and talent operations. She will also join the company's executive board, reporting to CEO Myron E. Ullman.

The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores. 

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement: “NRF applauds today’s Senate vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act and we commend Senators Enzi, Durbin, Alexander and Heitkamp for their skilled leadership in moving this legislation ahead.”


New York -- Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke received pay package in 2012 worth $20.7 million, up 14% from the previous year, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing Monday. Duke's performance-based cash bonus jumped more than 50%.

In the regulatory filing, Wal-Mart said that starting this year, it will tie some of Duke's compensation, along with that of other top executives, to the company's success in strengthening its compliance controls. Traditionally, compensation has been based on financial measures.

New York -- Saks Inc. says it plans to close its Saks Fifth Avenue store in WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., on May 4.

Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks, commented: “This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability, and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time.”

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack posted first quarter 2013 quarter sales of $849 million and a loss of $43 million, compared with $913 million last year and a loss of $8 million.

As a result of the company’s disappointing first quarter, it has ended its mobile phone partnership with Target. RadioShack said it had stopped operating its Target Mobile centers before the end of last month. The company had operated mobile phone kiosks inside Target stores. 

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax has been awarded the National Employment Team 2013 “Private Sector Business of the Year” by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) for its commitment to employing people with disabilities, including veterans.

OfficeMax is one of two organizations — and the only private sector company — to receive this year's CSAVR distinction.

NEW YORK — Retailer Saks Incorporated will be closing its Saks Fifth Avenue store located in the WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., May 4.

“This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time,” said Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks.

Toronto -- Express Inc. announced that its move to parity pricing is now complete. The retailer said it has been working to make cross-border shopping a thing of the past since entering the Canadian market.
 
The company's at-par pricing ensures that consumers across North America can enjoy the same shopping experience and value, regardless of geographical location.

Online shoppers can also take advantage of the parities, including an $8 shipping fee, as well as free shipping on all orders over $125.