Marketing

Who needs Family Dollar? After a failed bid to acquire its smaller rival, Dollar General is on the move and extending its presence to three new states.

Ross Stores is less than two months into its new fiscal year and already the company is halfway home on its 2015 new store growth plan and asserting its long term potential.

Ross confirmed that since the beginning of its fiscal year on Feb. 1, it opened 32 Ross Dress for Less stores and five dd’s Discounts stores in 15 states.

The company’s full year plan disclosed when fourth quarter results were released on Feb. 26, calls for 70 Ross stores and 20 dd’s Discounts stores.

Before Barnes & Noble Inc. spins off its Education division later this year, it is expanding the business by investing in a website where students buy and sell their notes from class. (Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Barnes & Noble was buying Flashnotes.com.)

Barnes & Noble and Flashnotes.com will also enter into a strategic alliance agreement that will enable Barnes & Noble Colege to promote Flashnotes at partner schools and on digital platforms.

Former Safeway executive Keith Colbourn has joined Coupons.com in a new retail oriented role focused on targeting and analytics.

Leading outdoor lifestyle retailer Gander Mountain has a new senior merchant to lead hardlines merchandising as it pursues greater growth of firearms and aggressive store expansion.

The operator of 156 stores – 40 of which have opened since 2012 – said Jay Tibbets joined the company as vice president of hardlines merchandising to oversee the sales, procurement and replenishment of all firearms, ammunition, security, hunting supplies and fishing gear.

UPS still loves logistics, but a new marketing campaign from the company puts a finer point on the range of problem-solving abilities alluded to when UPS first asked, “What can Brown do for you?”

United Problem Solvers, the new brand positioning from UPS, is designed to communicate the company’s unique capabilities to solve problems for all customers, ranging from small businesses to the largest global enterprises.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR has named a new financial chief, and the shopping center company reached from within its own ranks for the appointment. Luke J. Petherbridge, age 35, assumes the role of CFO effective immediately.
 
"Luke is an accomplished executive with a proven track record within our company, overseeing the balance sheet, fostering strong banking and capital partner relationships, and sourcing large scale transactions during his tenure with us," said David Oakes, president and CEO.

St. Paul, Minn. -- Gander Mountain will open a 52,000-sq.-ft. store in Kaleen, Texas, and a 45,600-sq.-ft. store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 12, giving it 156 stores nationwide.

The Tulsa location marks Gander Mountain's entry into Oklahoma. The Killeen store continues Gander’s major expansion into the Texas market, and will be its 20th store in the state.

Kansas City, Kan. -- Coach will permanently extend its temporary stay at Kansas City’s signature designer outlet shopping destination, Legends Outlets Kansas City. The permanent location, which will nearly double the existing pop-up footprint, is slated to open fall 2015.

Seattle – If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Amazon.com is reportedly heeding that old saw with plans to open a store on the Tmall site of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Holding Group.