Strategy

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Electronic Arts has entered into a multi-year endorsement deal with the captain of the U.S. Soccer National Team, Clint Dempsey. As part of the deal, Dempsey will serve as EA Sports Football Ambassador. 

Dempsey, attacking midfielder and member of the Seattle Sounders, will make his FIFA franchise debut in a FIFA 14 GameStop commercial. The full 30-second ad spot features Dempsey coaching a fan through various post-goal celebration moves. 

Philadelphia – The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack has acquired 17 Discount Tire Centers in Southern California from AKH Co. These 17 stores are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County.

Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 5.1% in September over the same month last year as retailers head into the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. 

U.S. ports followed by the monthly Global Port Tracker report, released by the NRF and Hackett Associates, handled 1.43 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. said it has appointed Jeffrey Boyer as executive VP, chief administrative officer and CFO, effective immediately. Boyer fills both the existing chief administrative officer vacancy and replaces outgoing CFO Stephanie Bowman.

Boyer previously was CFO, then COO of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, and has also served as CFO of Michael’s Stores and Kmart Corp.  

Dallas – Neiman Marcus is reportedly closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion.

PHILADELPHIA — Leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain the Pep Boys has acquired 17 discount tire centers in Southern California from AKH Company, Inc.

The tire centers are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County. They will re-open on September 12 under the Pep Boys banner and provide full-service vehicle maintenance and repair, including brand-name and private-label replacement tires.

Mom Brands will be making a donation to the Breakfast Club of Canada. For every bag of Sally’s ready-to-eat cereals purchased at Canadian Walmart stores from now until Dec. 31, Mom Brands will donate 5 cents to the Breakfast Club of Canada, up to $75,000.

Nature's Sunshine Products, a leading natural health and wellness company, has appointed former Clorox executive Beth Springer, to the company's board of directors.

"We are excited to welcome Beth Springer to our board of directors," said Gregory L. Probert, Nature's Sunshine chairman and CEO. "Beth brings significant, broad operational and financial experience to Nature's Sunshine and the board that I know will benefit the company and its shareholders. We look forward to her guidance and strategic thinking as a member of the board."