Strategy

NEW YORK — Last minute holiday shoppers will have some help from Macy’s this year, as the retailer plans keep most of its stores open 48 hours straight the weekend before Christmas, from 7 a.m. Friday, December 21 through 7 a.m. Sunday, December 23.

The 48-hour shopping marathon coincides with Macy’s final scheduled One-Day Sale of the year, which concludes at 7 a.m. Sunday, December 23. While the sale ends Sunday morning, 57 stores will remain open 24 hours or offer extended late hours until close on Christmas Eve.

Minneapolis -- Sprouts Farmers Market has installed enterprise asset management software from Verisae to support the company’s aggressive growth strategy.

The grocery retailer, which recently acquired Sunflower Farmers Market, recently implemented core modules of the Verisae connected facility platform; enterprise asset management (EAM), enterprise refrigerant management (ERM) and enterprise asset purchasing (EAP) solutions.

New York -- Dick’s Sporting goods will pay $2 special dividend before year end in a move to help investors avoid what are presumed to be higher dividend tax rates in 2013 and beyond.

The dividend payment will be made from cash on hand, according to the company.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is moving ahead full-steam. The company on Wednesday announced accelerated global growth plans that include opening at least 1,500 stores in the United States during the next five years. Including Canada and South America in the mix, Starbucks expects to add a total of 3,000 new locations in its Americas region — and renovate thousands more — by 2017.

MIAMI — PureFormulas.com, an online health supplement e-retailer, has appointed Daniel Moure as its new CMO.

WAYNE, N.J. — Babies”R”Us is getting ready to give its exclusive Truly Scrumptious line designed by Heidi Klum the international treatment.

Following Truly Scrumptious’ successful U.S. launch in fall, the retailer decided to roll out the line of products for babies and children in more than a dozen countries outside the U.S. beginning early 2013.

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware announced Ethan Allen Interiors will leverage the Demandware Commerce platform as the digital foundation of its global expansion strategy.

Ethan Allen recently launched its first site on the Demandware platform in Canada to coincide with the grand opening of its first Design Center in Montreal. Ethan Allen plans to re-launch its U.S. e-commerce site with Demandware in 2013 in addition to site launches in other countries, including Europe, to support its new design center in Brussels.

LOS GATOS, Ca. — Wanderful Media, a new Silicon Valley company that helps retailers bring consumers into local stores and facilitates ways for consumers to discover local merchandise, has appointed Doug Kilponen as its new COO. In his new role, he will oversee all business units and collaborate with CEO Ben T. Smith IV on strategic goals.

Founded in November 2011, Wanderful Media is creating an online platform for shoppers to explore products and sales with the mission of connecting shoppers with local brick-and-mortar retailers.