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.
 

Needham, Mass. -- PTC announced that Chico’s FAS has selected PTC Windchill FlexPLM product lifecycle management software to harmonize operations across category, brand, and departments.

By choosing Windchill FlexPLM across all of its brands, including Chico’s, White House|Black Market and Soma Intimates, the company is demonstrating a commitment to increase operational and inventory efficiency and reduce development time and production cost.

Stratham, N.H. -- The Timberland Co. has opened its new Boston retail location, at 201 Newbury Street. Construction on the store — housed in the old Prince School building — began earlier this year.

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle today Thursday that the firm is donating $1.25 million to the Japanese Red Cross to provide aid and relief following the Japan earthquake and Pacific Tsunami that have left a path of destruction in their wake.

WASHINGTON -- Consumers can expect to find less packaging with their food and beverages in the coming years as manufacturers look to eliminate waste. The Grocery Manufacturers Association found that by 2020 2.5 billion pounds of waste is expected to be avoided by 2020.  This is on top of the 1.5 billion pounds of packaging avoided since 2005.