Strategy

HUDSON, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Stores announced that its shareholders approved the adoption of the merger agreement between an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and the company. Of the shares that were voted, over 99% were in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement. Approximately 82% of the total outstanding shares, as of the record date, voted in favor of the merger agreement. The company anticipates the closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, will occur later today.

New York City -- Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 has pledged to donate 100% of its global online sales on March 18 to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. 

All of Forever 21's e-commerce sites -- forever21.com, canada.forever21.com, forever21.com/eu, forever21.com/uk, forever21.co.kr, and forever21.co.jp -- are participating in the initiative.

A first of its kind conference focused on shopper behavior is scheduled for May 12 in Fayetteville, Ark., home of the Center for Retailing Excellence within the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. The conference is called SHOP and features a number of thought leaders in the field of consumer research and shopper insights and was designed to complement the Center’s Emerging Trends in Retailing Conference that is held each fall.

New York City -- Jack Rogers, the brand best known for its Navajo-inspired sandals, has opened its first retail store, on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

The 1,200-sq.-ft. shop features the company’s greatly growing merchandise lineup, which includes a variety of women’s footwear, accessories, and even some apparel.

The store, designed by New York City-based a+i design, has a nearly all-white interior, with black-oak flooring.
 

By Martin Brewer, [email protected]

DALLAS – United Commercial Realty has named Robert Luleff as SVP. Robert is well respected in retail real estate and has consistently been a top performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. 

Luleff will join UCR’s retail services platform and will be instrumental in serving both the company’s institutional shopping center owner clients and 100+ national and regional retail clients.  Currently, he is handling the office product project leasing at Southlake Town Square, as well as various leasing assignments in the DFW area.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Apparel retailer Rue21 plans to double the size of its current 189,600-sq.-ft. distribution center in Weirton, W. Va. Development plans call for the construction of 180,000 sq. ft. of additional storage space, additional receiving docks, and improved truck circulation areas.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart announced it has eliminated more than 80% of the waste that would go to landfills from its operations in California by implementing a comprehensive waste reduction program. The results far exceed national average where EPA estimates only 45% of waste is diverted from landfills and the California rate of 65%.

The program is now being rolled out across the chain’s 4,400 stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers in the United States, moving the retailer closer to its global goal of creating zero waste.