Corporate Governance

Chicago — Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa has leased 3,200 sq. ft. at Heritage Plaza in Carol Stream, Ill. This is the fourth Hand & Stone location in the Chicagoland area as the company continues to expand in the region.

Heritage Plaza is a 128,871-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Jewel Osco. CBRE www.cbre.com represented the management company, Inland American Retail Management LLC. Baum Realty Group represented Hand & Stone.

New Canaan, Conn. -- Continuing a two-year slide in retail spending momentum, American shoppers will generate only a lackluster 2.9% rise in holiday sales, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 13th Annual Holiday Forecast. The CPG report paints a scenario that is decidedly less cheery than some of the other holiday forecasts that have been released to date.

Washington, D.C. -- Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced at the SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit on Thursday that three suppliers have made new domestic manufacturing commitments that will create 385 jobs. The move is part of the retailer’s previously announced pledge to buy an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next decade.

Walmart said that Elan-Polo, Louis Hornick & Company and EveryWare Global will produce footwear, curtains and glassware, respectively.

Redwood Shores, Calif. – Toms — the company that gives a pair of its shoes or provides eye care to a person in need for every corresponding purchase — has deployed the Oracle Commerce platform to support its rapid business growth and international expansion.

By Craig Johnson, president, Customer Growth Partners

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us is expanding its point-based Rewards “R” Us loyalty program as it gears up for one of the most competitive holiday seasons in years. The added incentives include a first-ever, private pre-Black Friday incentive.

New York -- Century 21 Department Store has joined forces with retail concierge service Hobson to offer same-day delivery to hotels and homes in Manhattan from the retailer’s downtown flagship location.

New York -- Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz had resigned from the board of mobile payments company Square Inc., Reuters reported.

Square, founded in 2009 by Twitter Inc co-creator Jack Dorsey, named David Viniar, most recently the CFO of Goldman Sachs Group, as a replacement.

Schultz joined Square's board in August 2012 by investing $25 million in a deal to use its technology to process debit and credit card payments at the coffee chain's stores.

Orte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware Holdings announced the appointment of Katie Mitic to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mitic, who will also serve on the board’s audit committee, is a veteran technology leader and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of strategic product, marketing and business development experience.

Century 21 has enlisted retail concierge service Hobson to offer same-day delivery to hotels and homes in Manhattan from their downtown flagship location.

For “a small fee,” customers will be able to drop off their purchases at the Century 21 Hobson booth on the ground floor of the newly renovated store for guaranteed same-day delivery.