Strategy

New York -- Neiman Marcus is equipping all of its 4,000 associates at its full-line stores with smartphones in an effort to better serve customers, company executives said on the retailer’s recent conference call with analysts.

Neiman’s executives also said the company plans to remodel it stores on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and in Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Fla.
 

New York -- Real estate advisory firm RCS Real Estate Advisors said Wednesday that it has been retained by teen retailer Delia’s to evaluate the performance of its real estate portfolio and serve as the outsourced real estate department for all retail locations. 

New York -- J.C. Penney appears to be relenting a bit on the strict non-promotional strategy launched by CEO Ron Johnson.

In a report on CNBC.com, Deutsche Bank analyst Charles Grom said the chain has added five "Best Price Friday" events to its calendar. The first took place the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and another is scheduled for Black Friday in November. Others may occur at peak sales times, according to Grom.

New York -- Levi Strauss & Co. promoted Joelle Mahler, senior VP of Americas Retail, to the new post of executive VP of the company, and president of global retail, effective immediately.

Mahler will be responsible for Levi’s retail operations worldwide, including company-owned, franchise and outlet stores, along with e-commerce.
 

Dallas -- Loyalty and marketing solution-provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the turnkey, marketing-driven private label credit card program for Gardner-White Furniture.

Gardner-White is a regional retailer of home furnishings, electronics, mattresses and accessories in the metro Detroit area.

Orlando, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects said Wednesday it has been awarded a contract to design four Aldi Supermarkets in located in North and South Carolina and Florida.

Each of the supermarket facilities will total 18,000 sq. ft. of retail space and are located in Salisbury and Indian Trails, N.C., in Columbia, S.C., and in southwest Orlando, Fla., near Disney World.

 

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the month of May increased 4.2% compared with the previous year. Revenue rose 4.1% to $2.02 billion.

New York -- A survey released Wednesday by Harris Interactive found that spending can be impacted by concern for the environment. While that has remained constant among many age groups, more young adults ages 18-to-24 say they are taking the environment into consideration when making purchases.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Wednesday that CFO Mark Hood has resigned the company, effective June 11. Russ Hammer has been named the successor.

“I’m confident [Hammer] will be able to make an immediate contribution across the company and to the work we’ve been completing in our portfolio realignment efforts,” said Diane Sullivan, president and CEO.

Minneapolis -- Caribou Coffee Co. said Wednesday it has opened its 100th international operating location, located in Istanbul, Turkey. The new store, which opened May 10, is in partnership with master franchisee Al Sayer Group and Turkey's Yildiz Holding, and is Caribou's sixth store in Turkey.

Al Sayer Group currently operates 89 of Caribou's 100 international locations in Turkey, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.