Strategy

Global technology platform and payments provider PayPal Holding, Inc. has appointed VP of global payments infrastructure (GPI) Sri Shivananda as the company’s new senior VP and CTO, effective April 1.

Shivananda’s appointment follows the decision by current CTO James Barrese, to step down to take time off. Barrese will remain with PayPal for a period of time to support a smooth transition period.

Tractor Supply Company continues its rapid expansion, with the grand opening of its 1,500th store, on Feb. 13, in Odessa, Texas.

The retailer opened a total of 114 stores in 2015, and expects to open between 115 and 120 locations in 2016. Tractor Supply stores are located primarily in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and in rural communities.
  

Strength in the furniture and mattress category during the fourth quarter wasn’t enough to help Conn’s avert same-store sales decline with each of the company’s other merchandise classifications reporting weakness.

Conn’s said its total sales for January increased 7.9% to $101 million and for the three months ended Jan. 31, sales increased 7.4% to $376.5 million. The gains were the result on news stores as same stores sales at the specialty retailer of furniture, mattresses, home appliances and consumer electronics declined 2.3%.

Shannon Greene, CFO of Tandy Leather Factory, was named interim CEO of the Fort Worth-based operator of more than 100 stores after CEO Jon Thompson resigned after more than two decades with the company.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced plans to add home retailer West Elm at Friendly Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, as part of a 12,700-sq.-ft. expansion project for the center. West Elm will occupy approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of the total expansion, which also includes Pieology Pizzeria and an additional soon-to-be-named retailer.

The new development will be located between Anthropologie and Whole Foods. Construction on the space is currently underway, and both West Elm and Pieology are scheduled to open fall 2016.

Columbus, Ohio -- Casto announced that it has been selected by Edwards Communities Development Company to lease the retail component of The Highline at Nine, Edwards new mixed-use project located in Columbus, Ohio.

The retail development is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2017. Located on the doorstep of The Ohio State University’s South Campus and the northern edge of the Short North Arts District, The Highline at Nine will include approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of prime retail and restaurant space along with 480 student housing beds.

KFC is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a store design makeover as it looks to refresh 70% of its 4,500 locations by the end of 2017.

The chain, owned by Yum! Brands, tapped FRCH Design Worldwide to come up with a modern look that would also highlight the playfulness and outsized personality of the brand’s legendary founder, Colonel Sanders.

Pier 70, the extensive waterfront redevelopment project in San Francisco, has announced its first official tenant and it’s a big one.

Restoration Hardware will open a five-story, 60,000-sq.ft. gallery-store in the historic Bethlehem Steel building. The high-end home furnishings retailer, slated to open in 2017, will be a subtenant of Orton Development, which master-leased eight buildings along 20th Street that will comprise the core of Pier 70.