Strategy

Chicago -- According to a survey released Monday by CareerBuilder and conducted by Harris Interactive, 80% of retail companies report that a bad hire has adversely affected their business in the last year, meaning that hiring the right employees will become a top priority in 2011.

Nearly one-quarter (23%) of the 254 U.S. retail hiring managers surveyed said that one bad hire cost their business more than $50,000 in the last year. One-third (33%) said that one bad hire cost them more than $25,000.

Washington, D.C. -- Tuesday’s report by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a fifth straight month of sales gains in November for U.S. retailers. Monthly retail sales figures for November were up 0.8% over October and 7.7% over November 2009.

Retail sales excluding auto sales were up 1.2% over the previous month and 6.7% over November 2009.

Department stores were the big November winners, recording the biggest sales rise in two years of 2.8%.

New York - Fast Retailing, Asia’s biggest clothing chain and the parent of Uniqlo, is lookjing to open at least 200 Uniqlo stores in the United States  by 2020 as it seeks to raise sales sixfold in a decade, according to a Bloomberg report. 

"The United States is one of the most important markets for us,” Shin Odake, CEO of Uniqlo’s U.S. unit, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 

EDISON, N.J. - Majesco Entertainment announced that Christina Glorioso has joined the company as chief marketing officer.  In this newly created role, Glorioso will oversee all brand management, creative, media and marketing initiatives while helping guide the company's strategic direction.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Cost Plus confirmed that it is conducting a merchandising test with Bed Bath & Beyond involving its consumables products in three Bed Bath & Beyond stores located in San Diego, California; Totowa, New Jersey and Elmsford, New York. 

For the third quarter the company reported a same-store sales increased 8.8%. Net loss for the quarter was $8.3 million, a $13.7 million improvement.

Cincinnati - Macy’s announced it plans to build a major new fulfillment center near Martinsburg in Berkeley County, W.V., to support the continued growth of its online business. The site is located about 80 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. 

Construction on the 1.3 million-square-foot facility is expected to begin in spring 2011, with operations beginning in April 2012 and order shipments beginning in summer 2012. 

PHOENIX - The board of directors of PetSmart has unanimously appointed Dr. Angel Cabrera, Ph.D., to the board, effective Dec. 9. 

Cabrera is president of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a position he has held since 2004. Prior to joining Thunderbird, Cabrera was professor and dean at Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, Spain from 1998 to 2004.

WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation announced that it has urged the Senate to support legislation extending Bush era tax cuts that is scheduled for a procedural vote today, saying the measure would help preserve and create jobs.