Strategy

Santa Clara, Calif. –- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly developing a new centralized approach to how it prioritizes and executes IT projects.    According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart will now consolidate all IT projects into a single portfolio overseen by CIO Karenann Terrell.  

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that two of its brokers have been recognized by their client, Carter’s, for bringing the two most profitable locations nationwide based on a sales-to-rent ratio.

 

Dawn Greiner, senior VP, and Carey Moen, first VP, both in the SRS Dallas/Ft. Worth office, helped Carter’s sign leases at the two locations. Greiner is the master broker for Carter’s and Moen is a part of the team of brokers that represent the retailer nationwide.

Irvine, Calif. -- Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions will resell Motorola retail solutions including mobile computers, wireless network solutions, bar code scanners and the MP6000 multi-plane bioptic imager and accessories. Toshiba has signed Motorola Solutions’ Global Systems Integrator Agreement and is now a member of Motorola's PartnerEmpower program.   

Toano, Va. –- Lumber Liquidators missed Wall Street estimates for both net income and sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014.    Net income totaled $15.7 million, down 23% from $20.4 million in the year ago period, amid higher expenses. Net sales rose 5% to $266.1 million from $254.3 million. Same-store sales dropped 4.9%, although they improved each month in the quarter as more inventory became available.  

By Sandy Kennedy, president of RILA
   (Editor’s note: The president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Sandy Kennedy, wrote the following op-ed in The Hill, discussing why chip-and-PIN is one important layer of protection retailers, banks and the government can provide consumers.)  

Boston -- Palladin Consumer Retail Partners announced a majority investment in Harrys of London, a London-based luxury shoemaker and accessories house known for combining traditional craftsmanship with the latest footwear technology.    The Palladin investment will provide Harrys with capital to expand its operating team, open additional retail stores and invest in new initiatives to fund growth including marketing, merchandising, product development, and e/m-commerce.

Revolutionary has become the most overused term in the retail industry and the latest company to apply that description to its retail offering is ironically called Retailcommon.

 

Berlin, Vt. -- The Berlin Mall, in Berlin, Vt., hosted the grand opening of the state’s first Walmart Supercenter on Wednesday. The location was previously a 65,000+-sq.-ft. Walmart store that added 26,200 sq. ft. and full-line grocery offerings to bring the retailer’s first supercenter to Vermont.