Marketing

Memphis, Tenn. — Strong third quarter results at AutoZone caused shares to surge on Tuesday and pushed the company’s stock toward the $300 mark.

Boca Raton, Fla. — After serving seven months in an interim capacity, Office Deport made a surprise decision and named long-time board member Neil Austrian as its new chairman and CEO. The announcement ends a lengthy search that began last fall when former chairman and CEO Steve Odland left the company on Nov. 1, amid deteriorating business results and Austrian was tapped to serve in an interim capacity. He had previously served in an interim role prior the company’s appointment of Odland.

Boca Raton, Fla. — After serving seven months in an interim capacity, Office Deport made a surprise decision and named long-time board member Neil Austrian as its new chairman and CEO. The announcement ends a lengthy search that began last fall when former chairman and CEO Steve Odland left the company on Nov. 1, amid deteriorating business results and Austrian was tapped to serve in an interim capacity. He had previously served in an interim role prior the company’s appointment of Odland.

NEW YORK — Creative agency Kaplan Thaler Group has been tapped to run Supervalu’s latest ad campaign, according to a blog posted on the Kaplan Thaler Group site Monday.

As lead creative agency, the Kaplan Thaler Group’s responsibilities will encompass advertising, digital and direct marketing across all Supervalu banners — including Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s/Star Market, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, Hornbacher’s and Save-A-Lot.

Pasadena, Calif. — Disney Store plans to open its interactive concept stores in more than 40 locations in 2011 the company announced today at the Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas.  The company said that by the end of 2011, it will have 60 new concept stores in 16 major markets in North America and eight countries.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.  — By now most consumers are at least somewhat familiar with the e-reader, namely Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook, but there's another e-reader on the market and Borders is banking on the device to help boost its business.

Although Targets’ new e-commerce platform isn’t expected to relaunch for a few more months, it is worth acknowledging that the massive undertaking is on time and under budget. That isn’t the case a lot of times with big technology projects, and the complexity associated with Target’s e-commerce business coupled with the rapid pace of change in the mobile and social media world’s created the potential for costs and project timelines to get out of control.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has appointed David Kelly as group VP construction, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Kelly, who has worked in real estate and development for more than 25 years, will start work May 31 and will have overall responsibility for all store planning and construction services, in addition to having a role in various segmentation initiatives, including Wellness, value and co-branded Save-A-Lot/Rite Aid stores. He will report directly to SVP, CFO and chief administrative officer Frank Vitrano.

With the dust settled from Target’s first-quarter earnings announcement last week, it has become quite apparent the company would not be faring well were it not for the beneficial effects of the PFresh remodeling program and last fall’s introduction of 5% REDcard Rewards.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s has announced plans to hire up to 300 information technology professionals, including 150 new positions. 

Lowe's reported that positions are now open across all IT professions, including business analysis, engineering, communications network, ecommerce, application development, program management and project management. The positiobns will be based at Lowe’s corporate headquarters in Mooresville, N.C.