Corporate Governance

Dollar Tree takes Deals in new direction
The Deals stores Dollar Tree acquired nearly a decade ago never turned into a meaningful growth vehicle for the company and soon the banner will disappear.

Dollar Tree said of the 222 Deals stores it operates, 217 will be converted to Dollar Tree stores and five others will become Family Dollar stores. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar earlier this year giving it a network of nearly 14,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Why CEOs are Increasingly Taking Ownership of the Consumer Experience
In a relatively short space of time, the retail industry has been turned on its head. Not that long ago, retailers would decide which goods they would stock, how much they would price each item, and which locations would sell which goods. Today, consumers are calling the shots. The smartphone has become like a store in a pocket and consumers use them to quickly find the exact item they want and compare prices to get the best deal. Depending on what is more convenient for them, they can arrange for home delivery or click-and-collect.

New insights on how to outperform the market

A new report from Nielsen offers concrete evidence that brands really can do well by doing good.

A landmark global report from Nielsen show that brands that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability grow faster than those that don’t. According to the 2015 Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report, in the past year, sales of consumer goods from brands with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability have grown more than 4% globally, while those without grew less than 1%.
Shoe Carnival adds new real estate expertise

Shoe Carnival has picked a new executive for a key role in its omnichannel-oriented growth strategy which could involve accelerated expansion of a small format.

The retailer has named Jeff Fink as its senior vice president of real estate. Fink will oversee the Company’s store site selection and lease administration functions.
Rite Aid steps up to aid flooding victims

Rite Aid on Tuesday announced that The Rite Aid Foundation is making a $25,000 donation to the Palmetto South Carolina Region chapter of the American Red Cross to help the victims, families and communities affected by last week’s severe flooding.
Food Lion connects with kids through grocery bags

Food Lion has come up with an artistic way to connect with the communities it serves and feed the hungry at the same time.

The retailer is inviting kids ages 5-14 to participate in its Food Lion Feeds "Summers Without Hunger" Design-a-Reusable-Bag Contest. The winning design will be featured on next year's Food Lion Feeds reusable bag, which will be sold in more than 1,100 stores in June. The campaign is anticipated to help provide another 1 million meals to families and children in need.
Bon-Ton plans massive holiday hiring spree

Bon-Ton is planning to hire thousands of seasonal workers this holiday season for its 270 Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers department stores.

The company says it will hire 13,000 seasonal workers, about as many as last year, and will also hire 500 seasonal employees at its e-commerce fulfillment center and at its distribution centers.
Job cuts come to DG’s HQ

Dollar General is rightsizing its expense structure by eliminating several hundred positions at its home office.

Dollar General said that effective immediately it had eliminated 255 positions but noted that 115 of those positions were vacant. The move follows an announcement the previous week by Walmart to eliminate 450 positions at its Bentonville, Ark., headquarters. Dollar General said the move was part of a broader initiative aimed at proactively improving efficiencies and reducing expenses by restructuring its corporate support functions.
Restoration Hardware unveils newest store format

Restoration Hardware unveiled its newest store concept, one aimed at a more modern sensibility than its existing stores.

The retailer says its new brand, RH Modern, aims to offer one of the most fully integrated assortments of modern furnishings, lighting and décor under one brand in the world. The multichannel business debuts with its own 540-page magazine-catalog hybrid, a dedicated website, and a significant retail presence, including a standalone RH Modern store.
Shoe Carnival names retail vet as senior VP of real estate

Shoe Carnival tapped Jeff Fink as senior VP real estate, effective Oct. 12. He will oversee the company’s store site selection and lease administration functions.

Fink joins Shoe Carnival with over 27 years of experience in the real estate industry focusing on footwear and specialty retail. Most recently, he worked for La-Z-Boy, as VP of real estate.

From 2003 to 2014, Fink worked for Jo-Ann Stores as senior VP, real estate and lease administration where he oversaw the addition of 366 stores totaling 2.8 million retail sq. ft.
Report: Whole Foods Market invests in sandwich chain

Whole Foods Market has made a minority investment in a fast-growing California restaurant chain, according to Nation's Restaurant News.

As part of the deal, Whole Foods plans to test the opening of Mendocino Farms outlets in select Whole Foods store locations, the report said.
Another retailer takes a stand on turkey day

GameStop is joining Staples in what could be new trend this year of retailers just saying no to opening on Thanksgiving Day.

GameStop announced Monday that its stores will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. GameStop’s other brands such as Spring Mobile, Simply Mac, Cricket Wireless stores, and the new ThinkGeek retail store will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day.