Strategy

New York City -- Aeropostale announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Montreal PTE Ltd., a joint venture between Apparel Group LLC and Jay Gee Melwani Group, to open approximately 25 stores across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, over the next five years.

The first store is scheduled to open in Singapore later this year.

Houston -- Stage Stores' fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 15% on increased sales. The department store operator said its board approved a new buyback of up to $200 million of its outstanding shares.

The department store operator reported net income of $32 million for the period ended Jan. 29, up from $27.9 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 5% to $453.7 million, from $431.7 million. Analysts expected $453.5 million in revenue.

New York City -- Wakefern Food Corp., parent of the ShopRite supermarket chain, plans to introduce its PriceRite discount format in Maryland, opening a 37,000-sq.-ft. store in Woodlawn on March 13.

Wakefern operates 45 corporate PriceRite locations, which feature both private-label and national brands in a value format.

New York City -- Best Buy is studying a variety of devices for its in-store employees to use, including the Galaxy Tab from Samsung, the original iPad and Motorola Mobility’s Xoom, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“While we plan in the future to supply each store a limited number of handheld devices to use as sales tools when assisting the consumer, we have not many any final decision at this time,” a Best Buy representative said, according to the report.

San Jose, Calif.  -- Orchard Supply Hardware on Monday named Mark Baker president and CEO. Baker will also join the Orchard Supply's board.

In December the company announced it was looking for a replacement for then-CEO Rob Lynch, who resigned.  

Baker was most recently president and COO of The Scotts Miracle-Gro. Before that he worked in various roles at The Home Depot and was CEO of Gander Mountain Co.

CHICAGO -- KitchenAid announced that it is introducing a new collection of premium hand blenders at the 2011 Home and Housewares show. The line is scheduled to be available in the fall and will include 2-, 3- and 5-speed models carrying suggested manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $39.99, $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.

WAYNE, N.J. – With reports of a possible IPO looming and strong quarterly results, Toys"R"Us is poised to dominate the toy sector, which has shown signs of a resurgence and renewed consumer interest, thanks to a number of innovations and must-have items as displayed during the 2011 Toy Fair. 

According to reports, the company is considering the idea of filing for an initial public offering this April, which is expected to raise about $800 million.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Robert Ingle, the founder and CEO of regional supermarket chain Ingles Markets, died March 6, the company announced Monday. He was 77.

The company's board of directors said Ingle will be succeeded by his son, Robert Ingle II, who has been Ingles chairman of the board since 2004.

Ingle, who founded the business in 1963, served as CEO since the company was incorporated in 1965, as well as president from 1965 until 1982.

Ingles Markets operates 203 supermarkets across six southeastern states.

Los Angeles -- Guess announced Monday that it has appointed Nancy Shachtman as its president of North America, reporting to Paul Marciano, CEO and vice chairman.

Shactman was previously president of Guess Inc. Wholesale. In her new position, she will oversee the North American retail operations for Guess and Guess by Marciano, as well as Guess Wholesale, including Mexico.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- GE Home & Business Solutions announced that Maryrose Sylvester has been named president and CEO of GE Lighting, a global industry leader in lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. 

Sylvester, who will report to GE Appliances & Lighting president amd CEO James Campbell, succeeds Michael Petras who has led GE Lighting since 2008. Petras is leaving GE to take a position outside of the company.