Marketing

Men's Wearhouse has named Scott Norris as Men's Wearhouse brand and Moores brand president and Paul Fitzpatrick as Jos. A. Bank's brand president. Additionally, it has appointed Jim Thorne EVP of direct sourcing. All three will report to Mary Beth Blake, the company's president and chief merchandising officer.

American Express has promoted Neal Sample, currently Enterprise Growth’s chief information officer and chief marketing technologist, to president. He will report to American Express CEO Kenneth I. Chenault and will serve as a member of the company's operating committee.

Sample replaces Dan Schulman, formerly group president of Enterprise Growth, who has resigned his position to become CEO of eBay’s spun-off PayPal business.

Staples has kicked off a nationwide tour called "Refresh. Recharge. Refuel." The tour aims to encourage office workers across the country to take a break from the daily grind by visiting a large-scale, popup break room stocked with free snacks, coffee and other beverages.

As part of the tour, Staples will host public break room events in 10 major U.S. cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Matthews, N.C. – Family Dollar Stores Inc. launches its “Ad Match Promise” program on Sept. 30. When presented with a local competitor’s printed advertisement, Family Dollar stores will match the competitor’s price.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Hawthorne, California, in Los Angeles County, on Oct. 11. The store is located in the Hawthorne Town Plaza.

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

Alpharetta, Ga. - McAlister's Deli has signed an agreement with new franchise group MidSouth Hospitality Inc. to open 10 locations in Middle Tennessee. Led by McAlister's veteran Charles Corley, MidSouth Hospitality will be opening its first McAlister's in early 2015.

The newly formed company plans to open a total of 10 new restaurants during the next seven years.

Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft will open its first flagship location, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

In addition, Microsoft plans to open 10 new stores across the U.S. in time for the 2014 holiday season, while the flagship New York store is being built. Microsoft has not given a specific timeframe for when the flagship will open, but said it has been planning the store for five years. It will open in a spot currently occupied by luxury accessories brand Fendi, a few blocks south of an Apple store.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores has appointed Kevin Systrom, CEO and co-founder of photo-sharing service Instagram, as a new member of the company’s board, effective Sept. 26. Systrom will also serve as a member of the retailer’s technology and e-commerce committee and its compensation, nominating and governance committee (CNGC).

Los Angeles -- In its latest management shakeup, American Apparel has named Scott Brubaker as interim CEO, effective immediately. He replaces John Luttrell, who is resigning. Luttrell took the reins of the troubled company in June after the board removed controversial founder Dov Charney from the top spot for alleged misconduct. He also served as CFO.

Brubaker, 43, is a managing director at consulting/turnaround firm Alvarez & Marsal, and has handled interim leadership jobs for specialty retailers, including Eddie Bauer, in the past.

Walmart continues to deploy new capabilities through e-commerce and mobile channels — and as part of its digital agenda, the board has added Instagram CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom to its ranks.

The entrepreneur, software engineer and co-founder of photo-sharing service Instagram has become the 15th member of the board. Systrom will also serve as a member of the company’s technology and e-commerce committee and its compensation, nominating and governance committee (CNGC).