Strategy

Retail innovation cycles last approximately 20 years. As we take a look at retail history, this cycle becomes self-evident. From the general store to department stores to discount stores and so forth, each variety has their day in the sun as the leading channel for most purchases. Today, we’re lucky enough to be living within two powerful cycles simultaneously. But the fun will soon come to an end.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. announced Monday it has appointed Greg Clark as chief marketing officer, effective immediately.

Clark will oversee global marketing and brand identity, including spearheading digital media strategy, brand development and creative.

Clark most recently served as the SVP creative marketing for J. C. Penney.

VAN NUYS, Calif. — Easton-Bell Sports, a designer, developer and marketer of innovative sports equipment and accessories under the Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn brands, has announced the following key executive appointments and promotions at Easton Sports:

ATLANTA — Innotrac Corp., a best-of-breed commerce provider integrating digital technology, fulfillment, and contact center solutions to support global brands, has announced the appointment of Steve Keaveney as its new CFO.

Keaveney brings to Innotrac more than 25 years of experience in finance, accounting and operations for both publicly and privately held companies.  He has extensive experience in financial leadership, revenue growth, analysis and budgeting.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Target will soft open 21 locations across Southwestern Ontario, including 17 locations on March 19 and four locations on March 28.  The soft openings follow the launch of three pilot stores and will allow Target to continue to engage in volume testing ahead of grand opening in early April. The 21 new locations are in addition to pilot stores in Guelph, Milton and Fergus, and will complete the 24 stores scheduled to open in March. Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

Dallas -- The 49th annual SPECS conference officially kicked off on Monday morning at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas with two kinds of inspiration: Greg Buzek, present of IHL Consulting Group, introduced the Retail Orphan Initiative, and U.S. Navy Seal Scott Taylor presented Afterburner Black Ops, challenging the audience of retailers in design, construction, facilities, store planning and development to use Seal techniques to run their organizations.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. will expand its Issaquah, Wash., headquarters, according to a regional news reports.

According to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Issaquah's director of economic development, Keith Niven, said the club retailer would expand the headquarters to take up as much as 1.5 million square feet.

 The Tacoma, Wash., News Tribune reported that the company currently takes up three buildings that are full.

SAN FRANCISCO and NEW ORLEANS — InsideView, a provider of customer intelligence, announced that one year after introducing a multi-faceted partnership with Microsoft to integrate InsideView's curated content into Microsoft Dynamics CRM, demand for the joint solution has exceeded expectations, and has provided an opportunity for Microsoft Dynamics channel partners to bring additional value to their CRM customers.