Corporate Governance

And the most-loved brands of millennials are…
St. Louis -- Nike, Apple, Samsung, Sony, and Walmart are the top five “most beloved” brands of millenials in a report by digital advertising agency Moosylvania. The 2015 Top 50 Millennial Brand Ranking Report is based on panel studies of 1,500 millennials (defined as aged 14 to 35).
Intel opens in-store “experience” shops in 50 Best Buy locations
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Intel debuted “The Intel Experience” in-store shops in 50 Best Buy locations nationwide. The hands-on “experience zone” gives shoppers the opportunity to try, explore and play with the latest, cutting-edge technologies from 3-D printing to digital disc-jockey remixing.

Giant Eagle pilots Brickstream in-store analytics

Pittsburgh –- Multi-format food, fuel and pharmacy retailer Giant Eagle Inc. is piloting smart devices from Brickstream for capturing and analyzing in-store data at six stores. Brickstream’s hardware and software solutions deliver the equivalent of “clickstream” analytics for the brick-and-mortar world.
Boston Retail Partners recommends EMV compliance, tokenization

Boston –- Between April and June of 2014, the retail sector led all industries in data breaches with 145 million records, or 83% of the total records compromised, costing retailers $195 per record apprehended. In response, Boston Retail Partners has released recommendations for data security best practices. The recommendations include:
Celebration Pointe begins construction on bridge

Gainesville, Fla. -- Celebration Pointe has begun site work on a five-lane, $12 million bridge that will span Interstate 75. Celebration Pointe partner Ralph Contimade the announcement.
Three new retailers opening at The Siena in downtown Montclair

Montclair, N.J. -- Regional comfort food, gourmet sandwiches and chocolates are coming to downtown Montclair. Pinnacle Companies Realty Group, a subsidiary of The Pinnacle Companies and the exclusive broker for The Siena, announced today that three new retailers are opening soon at The Siena luxury mixed-use community on South Park and Church Streets: Chocolate Works, the Heritage House restaurant and Jimmy John's gourmet sandwiches.
Amazon to open pop-ups in San Francisco, Sacramento

Seattle –- Amazon.com will open a holiday pop-up store at San Francisco Westfield Centre, in San Francisco, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to the San Francisco Business Journal.
Sears names merchandising exec as acting CEO of Sears Canada

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holdings Corp. has named Ronald D. Boire, executive VP/chief merchandising officer of Sears Full Line Stores and Kmart Format, as acting president and CEO of Sears Canada. Boire will leave his role with Sears Holdings and replaces former Sears Canada CEO Douglas Campbell, who the company previously said would leave his post by the end of 2014.
Abercrombie names Ann Taylor Loft exec as Hollister president

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has named Fran Horowitz to the position of president of its Hollister brand. Horowitz, 51, will report to CEO Mike Jeffries and will have overall responsibility for all product and customer-facing activities for the Hollister brand, and for its financial performance. Horowitz is expected to commence employment with the company on or around Oct. 20, 2014.
Report: Wal-Mart pilots digital movie service

Bentonville, Ark. –- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly piloting a service called InstaWatch that lets customers obtain digital access to movies they buy in stores or on the Wal-Mart site.
Report: Bank of America says Alibaba tops in e-commerce

Charlotte, N.C. –- Bank of America has reportedly released a report saying that Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is the leader in global e-commerce, followed by Amazon.com. According to Benzinga.com, Alibaba currently holds 31% of global e-commerce market share and should grow to capture 33% of global e-commerce market share in 2015.
Dunkin’ Donuts plans 40 new Michigan stores

Canton, Mass. –- Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 40 new restaurants in Michigan during the next several years, in addition to more than 60 currently operating in the state. The retailer continues to recruit franchise candidates there with an emphasis on Flint, Lansing and Traverse City.