Strategy

Walmart Canada is joining forces with a C-store giant to make online shopping as convenient as possible.

In a pilot project, Walmart’s Canadian subsidiary is partnering with 7-Eleven Canada to expand Walmart Canada’s Grab & Go locker network to six 7-Eleven stores in the greater Toronto area.

Starbucks Corp. is looking to someone with detailed knowledge of developing technology solutions as its new chief technology officer.

The coffee giant has named Gerri Martin-Flickinger, who previously served as senior VP and CIO of Adobe, as CTO effective Nov. 2.

In her new role, Martin-Flickinger will lead the global IT function and play a key role in shaping the technology agenda across the Starbucks business. Interestingly, in her previous life she played a key role in enabling Adobe’s transformation to a cloud-based business.

There will be a change at the top of lifestyle apparel retailer Tommy Bahama.

The company announced that Terry R. Pillow will retire as CEO of Tommy Bahama Group on January 30, 2016, the end of the company's fiscal year. He will be succeeded by Douglas B. Wood, Tommy Bahama's current president and COO.

Troubled retailer Lumber Liquidators is reaching out to customers in a new and unusual way.

The company, which has experienced significant financial difficulty since 60 Minutes ran a report in March alleging dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in Chinese hardwood products it sells, is launching an online “Before and After” gallery.

The National Retail Federation has formed a Digital Council to focus on the e-commerce, mobile and innovative initiatives that exist within the retail industry today.

The members-only council, powered by NRF’s Shop.org digital division, will support and promote collaboration in efforts like the exchange of information on digital retail trends and strategies, the development of original research, and educational events and advocacy opportunities in Washington, D.C.

For the third consecutive year, Apple and Google came out on top in a ranking of the 100 most valuable brands in the world.

Valued at a whopping $170.3 billion in Interbrand’s 16th annual Best Global Brands report, Apple increased its brand value by 43% over last year. Google, valued at $120.3 billion, increased its value by 12%. (The top 10 brands are listed at the end of this article.)

Lifetime Fitness has selected a fixturing solution from Cubic Visual Systems for use in its pro shops.

“Their retail fixturing solutions seemed to offer the durability and design flare that we were searching for in our pro shops,” said Julie Yager, senior VP of Lifetime Fitness.

The Chanhassen, Minnesota-based fitness company, which has its own millwork resources, is using Cubic Visual Systems’ hardware resources in eight to 10 shops. Lifetime Fitness intends to work with Cubic Visual Systems going forward.

Charlotte, N.C. -- EDENS announced that J.Crew Mercantile will be joining Park Road Shopping Center located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This location will be the first in the Charlotte market and is expected to open in early 2016.

J.Crew launched J.Crew Mercantile earlier this year, featuring a collection of value-driven merchandise with the brand's classic signature style.

New York -- Brixmor Property Group announced commercial real estate professional Mark Salma has joined the company as VP of redevelopment. In his role, Salma will focus on Brixmor’s anchor space repositioning projects in the North region with the goal of driving higher sales, traffic and small shop leasing at the property level.

The CEO of The Container Store says the company is still on track to maximize profitability despite a disappointing second quarter that produced little sales and revenue growth.

The Texas-based chain reported that for the second quarter ended Aug. 29, revenue edged up 1.2% to $195.5 million. Net income fell by more than 60% to $2.67 million, with earnings of $0.06 per share, a penny less than the consensus forecast and down by more than half from last year's $0.14 per share showing.