Strategy

Taubman Centers named Simon J. Leopold, treasurer and executive VP, capital markets, as CFO, effective Jan. 1.

Leopold will succeed current CFO Lisa A. Payne, who will continue as vice chairman until she leaves the company in March. Payne has been with the shopping center development and management company since 1997. Earlier, she was a vice president of Goldman, Sachs & Co.’s investment banking division.

The Container Store is teaming up with the Rhode Island School of Design on a contest that invites design students to re-think the organized home.

The goal is to give design students a platform to present their product ideas to The Container Store and the chance to see their ideas produced. The product submissions need to appeal to The Container Store’s consumer.

Justice continues to be a drain for the Ascena Retail Group, but in the fourth quarter Lane Bryant also proved to be a burden, as the company reported a drop in same-store sales.

The operator of Justice, as well as stores under the Lane Bryant, Cacique, Maurices, Dressbarn, and Catherines brands, said combined same-store sales declined 2% during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 ended July 25.

Kohl’s and Toys"R"Us are among the first retailers to announce their holiday hiring plans this year, and the numbers are more or less the same as last year for both companies.

Toys”R”Us plans to hire 40,000 employees at its stores and distribution centers throughout the country (about 5,000 less than last year). The retailer also plans to allow seasonal workers the opportunity to take on significantly more hours than in previous years, while also continuing to provide extra hours to current employees.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is questioning whether to use a broader definition of the term “joint employer,” a move that could bring sweeping changes to the restaurant and retail/wholesale franchisor model. Whether a large fast-food company exhibited more control than it should have over its franchisees was the most recent catalyst for the proposed change, but several earlier cases have challenged the more than 30-year-old standard for determining joint employment.

Burlington Stores is taking the lead on raising awareness of blood cancer with an in-store donation drive and employee program.

The retailer is launching its 14th consecutive company-wide campaign today in all its stores nationwide, encouraging its customers to make a donation at checkout to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society now through Dec. 2.

Gordmans Stores has named a veteran from Hancock Fabrics to take over as CFO.

The Omaha-based apparel and home decor retailer announced that James B. Brown has been appointed executive VP and CFO effective immediately.

Lower gas prices are not significantly altering consumer behavior, according to the latest Consumer Fuels Survey results released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Although drivers report that the national median gas price fell 25 cents per gallon in the past month and 60 cents per gallon since July, only 22% of consumers say that they will drive more over the coming month and only 15% say that they will spend more on other non-fuels items in the coming month.