Strategy

SEATTLE — Nordstrom plans to open another new Rack store this spring in Maine as the number of off price locations now exceeds the company’s full price stores.

The approximately 30,000-sq.-ft. store at Maine Crossing Shopping Center will be its first location in the state, and is scheduled to open this spring.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate proposed rules filed Wednesday in the Federal Register.

Michael Francis is among 10 top executives Advertising Age has singled out on a list of movers and shakers for 2013.

New York -- Two directors of Best Buy Co.  have resigned from the board of the retailer, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

G. "Mike" Mikan, who served as Best Buy's interim CEO in the wake of CEO Brian Dunn’s resignation last April, has left the board to become president of ESL Investments Inc., the hedge fund run by Sears’ Edward Lampert. Mikan, whose appointment is effective Jan. 1, will report to Lampert, the firm said today in a statement.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — EVP and president of Nordstrom Direct Jamie Nordstrom has joined West Marine's board of directors. Nordstrom also was appointed as the fourth member of West Marine's governance and compensation committee.

His board and committee service is expected to begin on the first meeting scheduled in 2013, most likely in March, and Nordstrom, like all the other directors, will stand for re-election to the board at West Marine's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Dollar Tree has announced that it intends to expand its distribution center in Marietta, Oak., by an additional 400,000 sq. ft. More than 100 full time positions will be created as a result of the expansion.

The facility in Marietta opened in 2003 and is currently 603,000 sq. ft. This facility supplies products to stores across eleven states, including all of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, and portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

NEW YORK — ESL Investments has appointed G. Mike Mikan as its new president. Mikan will report to Edward S. Lampert, founder, chairman and CEO of ESL Investments.

Mikan held various executive positions throughout a 14-year period at UnitedHealth Group, including serving as EVP and CFO, as well as CEO of its Optum subsidiary. Mikan has served on the board of directors of Best Buy Co. since 2008. He was appointed Best Buy’s interim chief executive in April 2012, and served until September 2012.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is one of seven bidders for Tully's Coffee, according to The Seattle Times. The bids were filed on Thursday as part of an auction process for Tully's, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October.

The report said that Starbucks’ offer is for about half of the Tully’s stores. Tully's currently has 47 company-operated stores.