Strategy

New York City -- A Wednesday report in the Wall Street Journal said that Barnes & Noble Inc. has put its Sterling Publishing business up for sale.

Barnes & Noble acquired Sterling in 2003 for about $115 million.

New York City -- Macy’s Inc. announced a strategic plan on Wednesday to open new stores in select markets as well as to close a series of underperforming units. As part of the plan, five Macy’s department stores will be shuttered in spring 2012 – in Topeka, Kan.; Laurel, Md.; Parma, Ohio; Antioch, Tenn.; and Texas City, Texas. Five new Macy’s stores will open in 2012 and 2013.

New York City -- Liz Claiborne Inc. said Wednesday that it will change its name to Fifth & Pacific Cos., effective May 15, to reflect the divestiture of its namesake brand as well as a newly honed focus on its core banners.

The owner of Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand agreed last October to sell its Liz Claiborne and Monet brands to J.C. Penney Co. for $267.5 million in a move to reduce debt. It also sold its Dana Buchman brand to Kohl’s Corp.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In what might become an additional indicator as to the power consumers can wield across retail through social media outlets, Wegmans on Wednesday reinstated Alec Baldwin as the company's spokesman.

Wegmans had pulled its Baldwin holiday advertising campaign in response to consumer complaints about Baldwin's behavior on an American Airlines flight Dec. 6, a flight from which he was removed for refusing to turn his cell phone off.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General plans to open 625 stores and add more than 6,000 new jobs in 2012. The locations will be spread among Dollar General’s 38-state operating area, and include the new markets of California, where it will open 50 stores and a distribution center, and Massachusetts. The discounter will also open a distribution center in the Golden State this year.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears announced that it has completed a number of initiatives designed to reinforce itself as a fitness leader. 

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the nine-week holiday shopping period of November and December edged up 1.2%. The company upped its fourth quarter guidance based on the results.

In related news, Hot Topic has named Cindy Levitt as VP, general merchandise manager, effective Jan. 16.

New York City -- Subway Restaurants plans to add 2,500 restaurants in 2012, according to a report on QSRweb.com.

In 2011, Subway opened more than 2,100 locations, including 1,000 new units in the United States and Canada.  A big part of the chain's growth came from nontraditional spaces such as convenience stores, department stores, train stations, museums, hotel lobbies and movie theaters, the report said.