Corporate Governance

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group Inc. has opened a 50-store expansion of Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, California. Desert Hills now has 180 stores.

Boca Raton, Fla. – Real estate investment firm The Herrick Company Inc., has acquired 44 retail/pharmacy properties located throughout the U.S. The properties, all of which are occupied under long-term triple net leases with CVS Caremark, were acquired for approximately $190 million.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. consumers spent more than $21 billion on video game content, hardware and accessories in 2013. According to a new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association representing the U.S. video game industry, called “2014 Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry,” 181.3 million Americans play video games.

Other findings from the report include:

• 51% of U.S. households own a game console, and those that do own an average of two;

Franklin, Tenn. – China was the fastest-growing country in Asia during 2013 in terms of new POS terminal installed. According to a new report from IHL Group, “Asia/Pacific POS Terminal Study,” China had 12% year-over-year growth in year-over-year POS terminal installations.

The Asia/Pacific region as a whole experienced 6.5% POS terminal growth. Other findings include that uncertainty about foreign ownership of retailers slowed POS growth in India to 8% and that Vietnam was the newest hot market for new POS devices.

Boston – Online clothing donation service Fashion Project is partnering with Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman to provide a personalized charitable clothing donation service for customers who participate in the InCircle loyalty program. All members, regardless of their annual spending, can utilize the White Glove Clothing Donation service to donate used luxury clothing, shoes, and accessories to a charity of their choice.

Baltimore - Under Armour opens its newest specialty retail location in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City on April 24. The SoHo Brand House is Under Armour's largest retail store to date and is the first store to feature Under Armour's Rowhouse Basement shop, where staff will provide private consultations to athletes, celebrities and VIP clientele in an intimate setting.

Seattle – Nordstrom Inc. plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Winrock Town Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The approximately 33,500-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2015.

The new Nordstrom Rack will be the company's first retail location in New Mexico.

Westlake Village, Calif. -- Paint retailers with well-trained staffers will drive a more positive purchase experience, this according to the J.D. Power 2014 Paint Satisfaction Study.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. has named Joseph M. (Mike) Mabry as strategy and experience design executive, replacing Robert J. Gfeller who left the company last month.

Michael P. McDermott has been promoted to chief merchandising officer, replacing Michael A. Jones, who will assume the role of chief customer officer, effective April 30.

Salt Lake City -- Overstock.com, Inc. has promoted Seth Marks to the position of senior VP of merchandising and strategic sourcing for the online shopping site.

Marks began his work at Overstock.com in 2013, and has served as VP of sales and special acquisitions. Previously, he co-founded Big Lots Capital, the special acquisitions arm of Big Lots, Inc., and served there as the VP of merchandising.  He also was chief marketing officer and Acquisition Group president of Tuesday Morning Corp.