Strategy

Washington, D.C. -- Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase a modest 1.1% in July over the same month last year, but a slow summer should be followed by significant increases as retailers head into the holiday season this fall, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.


HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears was arguably synonymous with its “Big Book” catalog, but as the world became more technologically advanced and look books went digital, the retailer bade its catalog and catalog stores farewell and shifted to a new retail model of locally owned and operated dealer stores. 

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin’ Brands Group, parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has elected Carl Sparks, president and CEO of Travelocity Global, to the Dunkin' Brands board of directors, effective July 26. Sparks, 45, has a background in e-commerce, consumer brands and retailing.

Michael Francis left his role as Target’s chief marketing officer for presumably greener pastures at J.C. Penney. That gig proved short-lived, but Francis landed on his feet this past February as chief global brand officer at Dreamworks and he shared his thoughts on the studio, consumer products and retail in the June issue of License! Global. Click here.

A social shopping list app called Divvy was chosen from among more than 76 entrants who participated in innovative exercise in crowd-sourced digital development conducted by Target and Fast Company.

The Divvy app was created by a New York-based group that called itself Team Pilot and received a $75,000 prize for their effort. The Divvy app which is designed to improve the group shopping experience by allowing multiple users to update a shopping list in real time while making it easier to split the bill and distribute receipts.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Former Sam’s Club executive Jason Reiser is heading to Family Dollar to be the company's SVP of merchandising. He replaces John Scanlon, who left the company at the end of March.

Family Dollar announced the key changes to its merchandising organization on the heels of better-than-expected third quarter results for fiscal 2013 ended June 1. 

Cincinnati -- FRCH Design Worldwide has named Tom Custer as VP, marketing and client development.

Custer is tasked with leading the company’s positioning in the marketplace, including its marketing and PR efforts. In addition, he will assist with new business development for FRCH and build a professional sales strategy for the company.

Prior to FRCH, Custer worked with Interbrand Design Forum in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as executive director, business development.

ATLANTA — Lowe’s has donated $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America so the organization can refurbish clubs across the country. Lowe's grants of up to $50,000 will fund repairs and renovations at 20 Boys & Girls Clubs, from northern Washington State to South Florida.