Marketing

One investor wants Barnes & Noble to embark on a new chapter — with a new owner.   Activist investor Sandell Asset Management issued a letter to Barnes & Noble’s board of directors on Tuesday, urging the company to sell itself. The firm believes a sale would not only improve the value of the brand, but protect itself against a volatile marketplace that continues to take a toll on sales.   

The search is over.    The Buckle named Thomas B. Heacock as VP of finance, treasurer and CFO, effective July 20. As CFO, he replaces Karen B. Rhoads, who in May announced her intention to retire. Rhoads will assist in the transfer of her duties and responsibilities to Heacock, and will continue to serve as a member of the company’s board.   

Subway is more accurately planning new locations.   The fast-causal restaurant chain is partnering with location intelligence provider SiteZues, to augment its development strategy. The company’s data-driven solution will combine advanced geospatial technology and visualization with Subway’s market data. The result will be more thorough and accurate insights — the foundation Subway needs to plan and expand its market growth.   

Websites with technical difficulties do more than frustrate shoppers — they damage a brand’s reputation.   This was according to a new survey from QualiTest Group. The report, which was conducted with Google Consumer Surveys in June 2017, was based on a sample of more than 1,000 respondents from the United States between the ages of 18 and 54.  

Abercrombie & Fitch is setting its sights on Chinese teens in a new partnership with China's online giant.   The retailer will start selling its namesake brand and Abercrombie kids line on Alibaba Group's Tmall website, starting on July 26. Tmall, which is China's largest consumer website for brands and retailers, has carried Abercrombie's Hollister brand since 2014.  

Formula. Format. Familiarity. The retail recipe is tried and true, based on brand dress and standards developed over years and, often, decades. Standards meticulously define everything from the logo to the physical layout of stores. Storefronts, where the visual expression of the brand identity is most evident and most essential, is especially prescriptive. A Barnes & Noble in Miami looks the same as a Barnes & Noble in Minneapolis.   

Amazon is staking a claim in the appliance market in a big way in a partnership with Sears Holdings.   The embattled retailer announced it will sell its prized Kenmore-branded appliances on Amazon. The deal opens the way for the broadest distribution to date of Kenmore products outside of Sears stores and its websites. Distribution will be nationwide, and Sears Home Services and Innovel Solutions units will provide delivery, installation, and other services.  

Sprint is expanding its growing store network in the Pacific Northwest.   The company plans to open 12 new retail locations throughout Washington by the end of 2017. Currently, Sprint operates more than 107 stores throughout the state.   In Oregon, Sprint plans to open nine stores in the Portland Metro area by yearend. The carrier current has more than 64 locations throughout the market.  

A clothing brand know for its "radical transparency" is putting down roots in its hometown.   Everlane will open its first permanent brick-and-mortar location, in San Francisco. The opening date hasn't been announced yet, but the company has posted a variety of available jobs, including "flagship store leader," on its website.  The storefront, on Valencia Street in the city's Mission District, is already identified with the brand's "100% Human"  tagline.   

An industry veteran has been tapped to lead operations at of the nation's fastest-growing fast-casual restaurant companies.    Mod Super Fast Pizza Holdings has appointed  Paul Twohig to the new role of COO,  effective immediately. The appointment comes as the company continues its rapid expansion in the United States and abroad. With Twohig’s arrival, Chris Schultz, former senior VP of operations, will take on the new role of senior VP, international to lead Mod’s development abroad.