Corporate Governance

Commentary: Retailers need to join forces to solve patent troll problem
Diane K. Lettelleir, senior managing counsel of JCPenney Corp., discusses why retailers can’t wait for the government to solve the patent troll problem in the commentary below: JCPenney and numerous other retailers have been hunted for the last decade by patent trolls that aggressively file suits based on overly broad claims in patents against related but distinct technologies. JCPenney alone has endured dozens of patent troll lawsuits over this period.
New partnership expands e-retailer’s dress rental assortment
Vow To Be Chic is giving shoppers access to a new line of designer bridesmaids' dresses. The two-year-old start-up, which allows women to shop for bridesmaids’ gowns via their desktop, laptop or smartphone, will add six of the best-selling gowns from Amsale's Nouvelle Amsale line. The partnership marks the designer’s debut in the gown rental segment.

Report: Department store closings are overblown

Malls and shopping centers are not endangered, but evolving species, International Council of Shopping Centers CEO Thomas McGee told the Miami Herald this week. “There is stress in the department store segment and closures. When you look at those stores as a percentage of retail square footage, it’s small,” McGee said in a wide-ranging interview with the paper. “But those spaces are big and prominent and they need to be handled in a systematic way.”
Century-old value department store calls it quits

Gordmans Stores is the latest chain to file for bankruptcy. The 100-year-old chain announced on Monday, March 13, that it filed Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nebraska.
Athletic apparel retailer taps GM veteran to lead innovation

Under Armour named Clay Dean as its chief innovation officer. Dean will be responsible for driving the company's global vision and strategy for innovation, and cross-functional collaboration with the brand’s internal design, marketing, product, and category management teams. He will be based out of Under Armour's global headquarters in Baltimore, and will report to Kevin Haley, president, category management and innovation.
RILA and Accenture launch tech innovation center

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Accenture on Monday announced the launch of a new initiative that will explore the impact that technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality will have on the retail industry. RILA’s new (R)Tech Center for Innovation will also help retailers create innovative ways of doing business.
Specialty retailer breaks into Canada

Destination XL is expanding its presence in North America. The male apparel retailer is opening its first Canadian store in Ajax, Ontario. The 5,028-sq.-ft. location features more than 100 brands and thousands of styles from top designers, including Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Buffalo Jeans, Nautica, Levi’s and Cole Haan, as well as exclusive brands, such as Brooks Brothers and Lacoste. Private-label brands Harbor Bay, 28 Degrees, Oak Hill and True Nation, round out the assortment, DXL said.
Walgreens makes executive moves

Walgreens Boots Alliance on Friday named two executives to the chief marketing officer and chief merchandising officer positions, promoting Adam Holyk and Joe Hartsig, respectively, to those roles. Both will assume their new roles as of April 1 and report to Alex Gourlay, co-COO for Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Beauty powerhouse preps for sixth DC

Ulta Beauty is getting ready to break ground on its newest distribution center.
Woodbury Common’s makeover is complete

The Italian shoe and handbag retailer Baldinini takes its place among the 240 other hallowed brands at Woodbury Common in Central Valley, New York, this month, but that’s just the punctuation mark on the story of the transformation of Simon Premium Outlets’ star property.
Report: Amazon site goes bilingual

Amazon’s newest endeavor hopes to attract more Spanish-speaking shoppers. The online retailer offering its website in Spanish, its first new language introduction since the site launched 20 years ago, according to CNet.
Longtime CEO of PacSun out

There’s been a change at the top of teen apparel retailer Pacific Sunwear of California (PacSun). Chief executive Gary Schoenfeld has departed the chain, which is owned by Golden Gate Capital. The news was first reported by shop-eat-surf.com Schoenfeld had served as CEO of PacSun since 2009. No reason was given for his departure.