Strategy

West Marine has gone private.    Monomoy Capital Partners announced Thursday that it has successfully completed the acquisition of West Marine for approximately $337 million, or $12.97 per share. The transaction was originally announced at the end of June.   

Office supply retailer Office Depot has tapped a 30-year marketing veteran to lead its marketing efforts.    Office Depot announced that Jerri DeVard has been appointed executive VP and chief marketing officer. She will report directly to Office Depot CEO Gerry Smith.  

Uncertainty has always been a part of the retail industry, but today it is reaching unprecedented levels. Far too many retailers have let that online monster that’s under the bed get into their heads and influence their strategic decision and resource allocation. But is that monster really vicious?  

Amazon is further bolstering its presence in The Wolverine State.   The online giant will open a new, 1 million sq. ft. fulfillment center in Shelby, Michigan. The building is set to open in 2018.   The warehouse will focus on picking, packing and shipping large items, like household decor, sporting equipment and gardening tools. These operations will be managed by approximately 1,000 associates, according to Amazon.  

A patent that changed how customers make purchases online has expired — and opened up new opportunities for competitors.   The “1-Click” patent filed by Amazon in 1997, expired Tuesday. As a result, any brand can now feature this functionality on their own e-commerce site, according to C-Net.  

The president and CEO of Macy's, Jeff Gennette, and Google's president of global partnerships, Daniel Alegre, will be among the headliners at Shoptalk 2018, the nex-gen retail and e-commerce event.   Also on the bill: Alon Cohen, president and co-founder of Houzz, the home furnishings and design site. Shoptalk's final agenda will feature more than 400 speakers, an increase of 25% over 2017’s event.  

The Kroger Co. is looking to extend its share of consumers' food dollars — this time, however, it’s aiming for the dollars spent on meals outside the home.    The supermarket retailer is opening its first-ever full-service restaurant, which will be located next to Kroger's new Marketplace store in Union, Kentucky. In a nod to the year Kroger was founded, the restaurant will be called Kitchen 1883. It will open in late October.   

Target Corp. is adding more health clinics to its stores.    Target is opening clinics staffed and operated by Kaiser Permanente in 31 of the chain's stores In Southern California. The expansion builds on an existing collaboration the two companies launched in 2014.