Strategy

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has received zoning approval from the Montgomery County Council in Maryland by unanimous vote for the development of Clarksburg Premium Outlets at Cabin Branch.

Simon Property Group, New England Development and Streetscape Partners make up the development team for the project, which will add 1,500 jobs and more than $150 million in private investment to the local economy. The development team is planning to open Clarksburg Premium Outlets by late 2015.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will hold its annual shareholders meeting on June 6.

The meeting will be at Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus at Fayetteville.

Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Silver Jeans Co. will open a store at Woodfield Mall on April 11, in Schaumburg, Ill.

"We put a lot of work into making sure the store environment represents our brand," says Michael Silver, CEO, Silver Jeans Co. "Consumers will be able to experience our brand values by visiting one of our lofts. We've created an environment that has a comfortable modern feeling but also lets our guests know that we're a historic brand with a rich 92-year history."

Reading, Pa. – Regional supermarket chain Redner's Markets has deployed Retail 20/20 to reduce shrink and improve in-store operations. The solution will also be utilized to provide visibility into daily store processes to increase efficiency and reduce fraud.

Oak Park, Ill. - McDonald's Corporation reported a 1.2% increase in global same-store sales during January 2014. That includes a decrease of 3.3% in U.S. same-store sales amid what McDonald’s called broad-based challenges including severe winter weather.  

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company has named Mark J. Weikel to the company's board of directors. Weikel currently serves as president and CEO of Luxottica Retail Optical North America.

Nashville, Tenn. – Kirkland’s Inc. reported improved year-over-year net sales for the full fiscal year 2014 but a decrease in the fourth quarter. Net sales increased 2.7% to $460.6 million during fiscal 2014, compared with $448.4 million the prior fiscal year, while same-store sales rose 0.5%.

During the fourth quarter, net sales decreased 4.2% to $156.1 million, compared with $162.9 million in the previous fourth quarter. Same-store sales were flat.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. posted strong sales for January and issued a fourth-quarter profit forecast that topped expectations.

The retailer said its same-store sales rose 1% in January. Analysts had expected a drop of 1.3%. Net sales for the four weeks that ended Feb. 1 were $899 million, compared with net sales of $1.13 billion for the five-week period ended Feb. 2, 2013.

For the fourth quarter, net sales were $4.58 billion, compared with $4.73 billion a year earlier.