Corporate Governance

Talbots selects APT analytics software
Hingham, Mass.-- Talbots Inc. will license APT’s software, including its Test & Learn and Market Basket Analyzer platforms, to test and analyze key business initiatives including promotions, merchandising, marketing and store operations. Talbots will use APT’s Test & Learn approach to identify which actions are most successful in improving performance and measure their impact on a test versus control basis.
PizzaRev plans 40-plus franchise stores in five new markets
Los Angeles -- PizzaRev, a fast-casual build-your-own pizza concept, is adding five franchise groups to develop the brand throughout Denver, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Long Island, New York and Columbus, Ohio. PizzaRev plans to open at least 40 franchise locations across the markets. Beyond its 12 corporate locations in greater Los Angeles, PizzaRev currently operates franchise locations across four states.

Stiles Realty hires industry vet as senior associate

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Nicole Messer has joined the retail group of Stiles Realty as senior retail associate. In this role, Messer will focus primarily on developing third-party retail leasing and investment sales business in the Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami markets.
South Pasadena Shopping Center selects RSA as leasing rep

Lakeland, Fla. -- Retail Solutions Advisors (RSA) has been selected as the exclusive leasing representative for South Pasadena Shopping Center, a community shopping center situated in South Pinellas County, Fla. The 165,928-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Bealls Outlet, Pet Supermarket, CVS and Dollar Tree, and serves as the primary grocery-anchored retail center for the surrounding residential community in the captive South Pasadena area.
Cullinan Properties relocates headquarters

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties is relocating its corporate headquarters. Cullinan Properties has purchased 18,320-sq.-ft. of space at GEM Terrace Office Condominiums in East Peoria, Illinois from EM Properties. The entire building is 26,000-sq.-ft. and features steel-frame construction and a glass-curtain wall exterior. Other occupants of the building include Heritage Bank, Validus Technologies, Legacy Investments Services and Consociate Dansig Group.
Report: Wal-Mart plans to close 30 Seiyu stores in Japan

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc plans to close about 30 underperforming Seiyu stores in Japan. Wal-Mart first invested in Seiyu in 2002 and took full control of the chain in 2008.
Report: Wal-Mart testing holiday price-matching

Bentonville, Ark. –- Wal-Mart is reportedly testing a price-matching program it may use for the upcoming holiday season. According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart is currently piloting price-matching with local competitors in brick-and-mortar stores but may expand the program nationally and include online competitors like Amazon.com.
EBay to offer Visa Qiwi Wallet in Russia

San Jose, Calif. –- EBay Inc. will offer Visa Qiwi Wallet as a payment option on EBay in Russia. Starting Nov. 5, all Russian EBay customers will be able to pay for their purchases with Visa Qiwi Wallet.
GNC beats Street with Q3 profit

Pittsburgh –- GNC Holdings Inc. reported a decrease in profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 but still beat Wall Street expectations. Net income totaled $64.3 million, down 13% from $73 million the same quarter a year earlier.
Rite Aid same-store sales grow 5.5% in Oct.

Camp Hill, Penn. –- Same-store sales increased 5.5% in Oct. 2014 at Rite Aid Corp. compared to the same month in the prior year. Total drugstore sales rose 5% to $2.06 billion compared to $1.96 billion. October front-end same store-sales increased 2%. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included a negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 7.1%.
Taxes hit Blue Nile income in Q3

Seattle –- A switch from an income tax benefit to income tax expense helped drive a reduction in net income at online jewelry retailer Blue Nile Inc. during the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Blue Nile reported net income of $1.65 million, down 43% year-over-year from $2.9 million. Net sales increased 7% to $105.8 million compared to $98.9 million. The company remains optimistic for the remainder of the year.
Havertys net income dips in Q3, plans 5 new stores

Atlanta -– Net income at Havertys dropped 17% to $7.82 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 from $9.49 million in the same period the previous fiscal year, with higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses dampening profits. Havertys plans to open one new store in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 and four in new stores in the first half of 2015, three in new markets. Net sales climbed 3% to $198.5 million from $192.72 million. Same-store sales rose 1.9%.