Strategy

Los Angeles -- Guess, Inc. has appointed Hillary Super as SVP, general merchandise manager for Guess, reporting to Paul Marciano, co-founder and CEO of Guess.

In this role, Hillary will be responsible for product categories for Guess as the lead merchant for the company, and she will also be a key member of the Guess senior management team. Previously, Hillary spent six years in senior merchant roles at American Eagle and four years at Gap where she oversaw multiple brands and product categories.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores will close its Younkers Furniture Gallery in the Lakeshore Marketplace in Muskegon, Mich., in June. The closing will affect approximately 20 associates at the location.

The Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Muskegon Furniture Gallery store when it acquired Elder-Beerman in 2003. Bon-Ton does not expect the furniture gallery’s close to affect operations at the Younkers department store located in The Lakes Mall.

LOS ANGELES — Walgreens has partnered with NBC to launch a new web series inspired by NBC’s hit weight-loss competition series "The Biggest Loser."

The series follows former contestant Filipe Fa's journey to lose weight and keep it off once and for all.

NEW YORK — JCPenney is turning to Blackstone Group to help raise cash and better position itself financially, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The company is reportedly seeking $1 billion in cash, according to the Wall Street Journal, which added that options could include selling a minority stake. Penney already has been in contact with several private equity firms about a potential investment, according to the report.  

A rededication to the basics business has Walmart’s apparel business heading in the right direction and next week, Andy Barron, EVP of softlines, will elaborate on the turnaround and winning with the Walmart customer.

Jerry Murray, the Walmart finance VP who called the chain's early February sales "a total disaster" in an email made public by Bloomberg, has left the company, effective April 5, according to a Reuters report.

Wal-Mart Stores has confirmed the report, telling Reuters that it was Murray's decision to leave and that his last day at Wal-Mart was Friday.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has proposed increasing federal taxes on cigarettes, drawing criticism from tobacco companies and praise from anti-smoking groups.

As part of his proposed budget, Obama proposed raising the tax on cigarettes by 94 cents per pack, with similar increases on other tobacco products. The current tax is $1.01 per pack.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1's fourth-quarter earnings fell 46% compared with last year, when the chain recorded a large, one-time tax benefit.

The company earned $61.7 million in the three months that ended March 2, compared with $115.2 million in last year's quarter. Revenue rose 16% to $551.6 million. Same-store sales climbed 7.9%.

For the full year, Pier 1 earned $129.4 million on $1.7 billion in revenue.

For its current fiscal year, the chain expects to open 30 stores.