Corporate Governance

Williams-Sonoma has appointed Ronald R. Young SVP, global, as part of its strategy to grow the brand outside the United States.

“Global expansion is one of our most important initiatives, and I’m pleased to have Ron Young, with his more than 30 years of experience in global markets, leading our continued growth,” said president and CEO Laura Alber. “Ron’s deep understanding of the global retail landscape, and his financial discipline are the ideal combination of skills and experience to lead our global strategy.”

GoJo Industries, the makers of Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer, have issued a challenge to consumers to adopt 30 days of healthy habits by joining the Purell Advanced 30-Day Challenge.
 

Sam’s Club opened three new locations this month including locations near Chicago, Fort Worth and Wichita, Kan., that pushed its club count to 630 units.

Heineken Light’s most recent ad campaign, "Best Tasting Light Beer," features three-time Emmy award-winner and Tony award-winner and host Neil Patrick Harris.  

The reformulated Heineken Light recipe still contains just 99 calories but now includes cascade hops, commonly used in IPAs to create a fuller flavor, crisper aftertaste and a clean finish, the company said.

Walmart chief information officer Karenann Terrell will headline a first of its kind technology conference next month in Northwest Arkansas organized by the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Burlington Stores has updated its comparable store sales guidance for the second quarter ending Aug. 2 and launched a debt refinancing transaction.

Based on the company’s results quarter to date and its estimates for the remainder of July, comparable store sales for the quarter are expected to increase between 3% and 4% — not as much as last year’s second quarter comparable-stores sales increase of 7.8%, but better than its previous estimates of 2% to 3%.

A strong spring painting season drove a near 10% increase in same store sales at Sherwin-Williams and fueled record sales and profits for the operator of 4,100 stores.

The company’s total sales increased 12.1% to slightly more than $3 billion due primarily to higher sales in the company paint stores group. Acquisitions were said to have increased net sales by 4.6%. Profits grew at an even faster pace, with earnings per share increasing 19.5% to $2.94 from $2.46.

New York -- Fred Segal will unveil its first “international lifestyle center” concept in spring 2015, in Tokyo. The format will feature a collection of stores in three buildings in a converted railway site at 13 Daikanyama-cho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. It will be Fred Segal’s first location outside the United States.

San Jose, Calif. -- EBay Inc. on Wednesday reported that its second quarter earnings rose 5.6%, topping analysts' expectations.

The company posted $676 million in net income, up from $640 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Revenue rose 13% to $4.37 billion from $3.88 billion in the same quarter a year ago.
 

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café announced its entry into Oregon, with the addition of franchise partner NW Ventures. As the operator of more than 138 Burger King franchises in Oregon and Mexico, as well as two TGI Fridays in Mexico, NW Ventures joins Corner Bakery Cafe as its 32nd franchise partner, with plans to open 12 neighborhood cafes in the state of Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.