Strategy

Oxnard, Calif. -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Wet Seal has opened a 6,000-sq.-ft. store at Esplanade Shopping Center, located in Oxnard, Calif. 

The new store celebrated its grand opening on April 16.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Esplanade Shopping Center.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. said Monday that Tony Montini has been promoted to executive VP merchandising.

Montini most recently served as senior VP of category management.

In his new position, Montini will oversee field merchandising and the company’s new store format development in addition to his current responsibilities for category management. The company’s new store formats include wellness stores, value + stores and co-branded Save-A-Lot Rite Aid stores.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Monday it is acquiring Mountain View, Calif.-based social media company Kosmix to help strengthen its social and mobile commerce.
 
Wal-Mart, which has not disclosed the terms of the transaction, said it is interested in a social media technology platform Kosmix has developed that filters and organizes content in social networks to connect people with information that may be of interest to them.

CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid announced that Tony Montini has been promoted to EVP merchandising. In his new position, Montini will oversee field merchandising and the company’s new store format development in addition to his current responsibilities for category management. 

Montini most recently served as SVP category management. He will continue to report to Ken Martindale, Rite Aid COO.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse announced Monday that company president and COO Douglas S. Ewert will succeed founder George Zimmer as president and COO, effective June 15.

According to the retailer, the transition is part of a previously announced succession plan.

Ewert, 47, has been nominated by the board to be elected as a director of the company at the annual shareholder meeting and will be included in the list of nominees in the proxy statement for consideration by the shareholders.

MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores announced that it has named Brad Rogers to the position of VP real estate development. Rogers will report to Keith Gehl, SVP real estate and facilities.

“Accelerating new store growth is a key element of our strategic agenda,” said Gehl. “Through Brad’s leadership we will continue our aggressive growth in both new and existing markets to provide budget-conscious customers with a compelling shopping experience in more areas of the country.”

From where I sit, I’ve noticed a certain “buzz” of optimism in our industry -- frustrations and anxieties from a tough couple of years seem to be giving way to increasingly sunny retail sales forecasts. Is this sudden sense of optimism justified by cold, hard facts? Or, is this increasing sense of optimism somewhat irrational?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After opening 80 stores last year and with plans for another 90 units this year, Big Lot’s made several merchandising moves to facilitate its planned growth.

The nation’s leading closeout retailer announced it has hired former Sears merchandising executive Doug Wurl to serve as its EVP merchandising. He assumes responsibilities previously held by John Martin who was named EVP administration with responsibility for store operations and human resources.