Strategy

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware announced Monday it has rebranded the company as RH, in a move to better position itself as a multichannel operation.

According to RH creator Gary Friedman: "Today's RH is a far cry from the hardware and nostalgic discovery item based business it once was.  … The new branding positions us for the future and reflects our belief that we can curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home."

Minneapolis -- A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Best Buy Inc. CEO Hubert Joly has sold $1.19 million worth of shares of common stock of the company.
 
Joly sold 65,796 shares at a price of $18.02 per share, according to the SEC filing. According to Best Buy, the stock sale was made to cover taxes associated with stock grants.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Monday that it has acquired the receivables associated with The Talbots Inc.’s existing private-label credit card file, and will acquire the credit card accounts, pending regulatory approval. The receivables portfolio totals about $145 million.

Alliance Data also said that its Retail Services business will provide private-label credit card services for Talbots, as well.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark said Monday it has named Thomas M. Moriarty as executive VP and general counsel for the company.  

Moriarty most recently served as general counsel at the Celgene Corp., a biopharmaceutical company.

Moriarty succeeds Douglas Sgarro who retired in May after more than 14 years with the company.

Walmart unveiled its top toy list Friday morning and couldn’t resist taking a shot at Toys "R" Us which launched a toy reservation program earlier in the week.

Walmart said its layaway program and top toy offering gives parents the confidence to shop now for the toys kids want at every day low prices. And in an obvious dig at Toys "R" Us, the press release for Walmart’s top 20 toys declared, "no reservations required: America’s largest toy seller’s hassle-free layaway program begins this Sunday."

Walmart unveiled its top toy list Friday morning and couldn’t resist taking a shot at Toys "R" Us which launched a toy reservation program earlier in the week.

Walmart said its layaway program and top toy offering gives parents the confidence to shop now for the toys kids want at every day low prices. And in an obvious dig at Toys "R" Us, the press release for Walmart’s top 20 toys declared, "no reservations required: America’s largest toy seller’s hassle-free layaway program begins this Sunday."

Well paid teachers who receive generous benefits are on strike in Chicago and reminding Walmart why organized labor is a bigger threat to its business than any competitor.

NIWOT, Colo. — Casual footwear brand, Crocs, has announced that Dale Bathum has been appointed chief product officer, Mike DeBell has been named chief sales officer and Doug Hayes has taken the role of president of the Americas market. As chief product officer, Bathum will be responsible for overseeing ideation, design, development and introduction of Crocs products to the international marketplace, while DeBell will lead all Crocs global sales offices and direct-to-consumer sales in the role of chief sales officer.

BOONE, Iowa — Dole Food Company partnered with Hy-Vee Food Stores to donate five salad bars to schools in the central Iowa area at the United Community School in Boone, Iowa. The salad bars were donated as a part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, which has donated more than 1,440 salad bars serving more than 720,000 children across the country.

All Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants can expect to have a portion of their compensation tied to the achievement of live better sustainability goals in 2013 as part of what president and CEO Mike Duke called an unwavering commitment to sustainability.