Strategy

New York -- Chico's FAS will launch its namesake brand in Mexico, through an exclusive franchise with El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C. V. ("Liverpool"), starting with a stand-alone boutique at Perisur Mall, Mexico City, in spring 2014.

Plans for the Chico's expansion in Mexico include the opening of stand-alone stores as well as branded shop-in-shops in Liverpool department stores. The second stand-alone boutique will open in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

Bentonville, Ark. – Major U.S. retailers including Wal-Mart Stores and Kroger reportedly already have hardware to read PIN-and-chip payment cards, which are more resilient against data breaches than the magnetic stripe payment cards commonly used by American consumers. However, according to the Dallas Morning News, the hardware is largely unusable because customers do not have PIN-and-chip cards.

Goleta, Calif. – Deckers Outdoor Corporation has created three new senior management positions Dave Powers, currently president, global direct-to-consumer (DTC), has been promoted to president of omni-channel, reporting to the CEO.
In addition to continuing to oversee Deckers' domestic DTC operations, he will also oversee all wholesale, distributor, retail and e-commerce channels in Deckers' international regions. Deckers also promoted Constance X. Rishwain, president, UGG Australia to the additional role of group president fashion & lifestyle brands

Tyler, Texas -- Brookshire Grocery Company has deployed the cloud-based Retail 20/20 exception reporting solution from Agilence, Inc. to reduce shrink and improve in-store operations. Brookshire Grocery Company operates 152 stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Brookshire Grocery plans to reduce shrink and improve in-store operations with Retail 20/20 reporting, a cloud-based exception reporting solution by Agilence.

"We needed a powerful reporting application to get the most out of our data and a team to help us drive it," stated John D'Anna, CIO for Brookshire Grocery. "After a six-month pilot, it was clear that Retail 20/20 was able to deliver a significant return on our investment."

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Co. is amending its stockholder rights plan as part of move to protect its ability to use certain funds that can be used for tax benefits.

Penney said its shareholder rights plan can now be put into effect if an individual or group acquires 4.9% or more of its outstanding stock, down from its previous 10%.

Jo-Ann has promoted Riddianne Kline to EVP, marketing and merchandising, and Tom Williams to EVP, operations and human resources. James Kerr, EVP, CFO, completes the executive leadership team reporting to CEO and president Travis Smith.

Miami -- Publix Super Markets will open a 49,000-sq.-ft. supermarket and pharmacy to anchor Terra Group’s latest retail center development, Doral Commons in Doral, Fla. The 140,000-sq.-ft. center is located in one of the fastest growing residential areas of Miami Dade County.

Courtelis Company represented Terra Group in the lease negotiation with Publix and will continue to represent the company in the leasing of the remaining available space in Doral Commons.