Strategy

By Rick Caccia, [email protected]

Salt Lake City -- On the heels of a new self-serve prototype, TCBY, announced an agreement with Lone Star Yogurt to open 200 stores over the next 10 years with area developer.

Lone Star Yogurt plans to open its first TCBY self-serve store in January in Lone Star’s hometown of Tyler, Texas. It has committed to open another 24 TCBY self-serve stores in East Texas, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston in the next 18 months.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek announced that Jill Brown Dean has been appointed president and chief merchandising officer, effective Feb. 14. She succeeds Georgia Shonk Simmons who previously announced her intention to retire.

Dean joins Coldwater Creek with over 25 years of retail and merchandising experience in the specialty retail sector. She most recently served as president of the Limited Too division of Tween Brands.

Target has never claimed to have the lowest prices, but it might want to rethink that strategy now that it has the benefit of its REDcard loyalty program.

Rochester Hills, Mich. -- Emagine Theatres has opened a 47,884-sq.-ft. location at Hampton Village Centre, in Rochester Hills, Mich.

The center is owned by Centro Properties Group, based in New York City.
 

Activist investor and hedge fund executive Bill Ackman has accomplished at J.C. Penney what he was unable to do at Target. He secured a seat on the department store retailer’s board after purchasing a bunch of shares and will now be able to push for strategies to increase shareholder value. Joining Ackman on the J.C. Penney board is another large shareholder, Steven Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust.

New York City -- Winick Realty Group LLC said that jewelry and accessory retailer Laila Rowe has leased its first downtown Manhattan location at 99 Wall Street, between Front Street and Water Street.

Laila Rowe currently has 17 retail stores on the East Coast.

The 520-sq.-ft. space is on the ground floor and includes a partial basement.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said that Darren Shepherd has been named general manager of its Boynton Beach Mall property.

In his new position, Shepherd will be responsible for overseeing operations, customer relations, retail development and security for the mall.