Marketing

Despite a volatile global retail environment, Coach increased sales and profits for its fiscal second quarter.   The luxury handbag and accessories retailer reported revenue of $1.32 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, up 4% from $1.27 billion last year. The retailer’s net income was $200 million, up from $170 million in 2015.  

Chain Store Age has launched our annual search for 10 individuals in retail real estate we call “retail stars;” all will be featured in the May 2017 issue of CSA with bonus distribution at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon event in Las Vegas!     The award recognizes people under the age of 40 who are making an impact in retail real estate – whether from the tenant (retail) or the landlord (shopping center company) side.  

Alan Young has been named senior VP of Property Management in Minnesota by Mid-America Real Estate. He joined the company’s third-party management operation in 2011.   Young spent nearly six years at GGP earlier in his career, managing a portfolio of 10 regional shopping centers generating more than $100 million in net income. He rose to VP and group director at the company before joining Mid-America as a senior property manager.   Young was named a partner in Mid-America last year.

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In addition to promoting three key executives and adding a new board member, Signet Jewelers is announcing the retirement of two company leaders.    The appointments include the following:  

Starbucks Corp. is living up to its reputation as one of the nation’s most socially progressive retailers.    On the heels of President Donald Trump's indefinite suspension of Syrian refugees and temporary travel bans that apply to seven predominantly Muslim countries, the coffee giant pledged to hire 10,000 refugees to work at its stores around the world during the next five years.  

Phillips Edison, a major player in grocery-anchored centers with more than 270 properties across the U.S., has announced three key senior management promotions. 

Eric Richte

A retail veteran is leaving Brooks Brothers to join Destination XL Group.   The men’s specialty apparel retailer has named Sahal Laher as its senior VP, chief digital and information officer, effective Monday, Jan. 30.   Laher, Brooks Brothers’ former executive VP of digital innovation and technology and global CIO, will be the principal architect and leader of DXL’s digital commerce strategies and IT/MIS operations. Laher will also be a member of the company’s executive committee.

Office Depot has named a successor to CEO Roland Smith, who previously announced his intention to retire from the company. The company also named a new chairman.    The retailer has appointed Gerry P. Smith as CEO, effective Feb. 27. Smith currently serves as executive VP and COO of Lenovo Group, a $45 billion global technology company.