Strategy

Dallas — Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced it has signed a long-term extension agreement with Victoria’s Secret, a subsidiary of Limited Brands, Inc., to provide private-label credit card services.

terms of the extension, Alliance Data will continue to provide end-to-end private-label credit card services for the Victoria’s Secret credit card from account acquisition to customer service.

Pittsburgh — General Nutrition Centers, has added PayPal's Mobile Express Checkout to its mobile site. The integration was made exclusively by mobile and social commerce provider, Branding Brand, without any involvement from third-party service providers, and makes GNC one of the first to implement this feature on its mobile site.

Final attendance numbers aren’t available yet, and while RECon 2011 may not have been the really, really big show it was in 2007, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual Las Vegas convention was clearly a big event.

Pre-recession, the show attracted in excess of 50,000 retailers, retail service providers and shopping center executives to view the latest and greatest projects coming out of the ground. This year’s May 23 to 25 iteration didn’t pull 50k, but best guesses put attendance at over 30,000. 

Topeka, Kan. — Collective Brands reported that first-quarter 2011 net earnings were $26.4 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with $54.2 million, or 83 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2010.

The company reported that net sales decreased 1.1% to $869 million. Same-store sales were down 7.4%. 

Anaheim, Calif. — Pacific Sunwear of California announced that net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were $186 million, a decrease of 2% from net sales of $190 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Total company same-store sales increased 1% during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

The company reported a net loss of $31 million, or 48 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to a net loss of $31 million, or 47 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

Optimism about economic expansion is on the rise among senior finance executives in the United States and around the rest of the globe, according to the annual American Express/CFO Research Global Business & Spending Monitor.  In fact, the level of optimism was the highest in the four years that the survey has been conducted, with three in four (75%) executives expecting modest to strong economic expansion over the next twelve months -- up from 71% in 2010. The U.S. figure was even higher at 79%, although most predict modest growth.

Shenzhen, China — Walmart will be looking to capitalize on compelling growth prospects in China under the leadership of new senior executives following the simultaneous departure of CFO Roland Lawrence and COO Rob Cissell.

Both men left the company to pursue other development opportunities, according to Walmart, leaving leadership of Chinese business in the hands of Walmart China president and CEO Ed Chan and Wal-Mart Stores Asia president and CEO Scott Price.

WASHINGTON — Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), has announced the appointment of Sean Darragh as EVP global strategies, a newly created position within the association.

The EVP global strategies, is responsible for expanding GMA’s international program by defining and effectively executing a global policy and advocacy strategy that is fully integrated into the GMA strategic plan, the association reported. 

Minneapolis — Target announced its donation of funds and product to support tornado relief efforts in Minnesota.

The funds, which totaled $50,000, will help the efforts of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

“We take seriously our responsibility as a retailer, employer and community member to aid in times of need,” Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said. “Before and after a crisis, communities can count on Target.”

Memphis, Tenn. — Strong third quarter results at AutoZone caused shares to surge on Tuesday and pushed the company’s stock toward the $300 mark.