Corporate Governance

Boca Raton, Fla. - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly set to approve the proposed merger between Office Depot and OfficeMax after concluding it will not significantly affect competition in the office retailing space. According to multiple press reports, the deal will go through without either company having to divest any holdings.

Watters Creek, in Allen, Texas, began life in a 2005 focus group with two-dozen women from Allen.

Organized by the property’s developer Trademark Property Co., the focus group asked participants what they would like to see in this new mixed-use center. What should it offer? What should it look like? What do you need in Allen, Texas?

Gokul Rajaram, head of product engineering at disruptive payments company Square, has joined the board of directors at digital coupon marketplace RetailMeNot.

Park City Group, a leading consumer goods supply chain technology provider, has appointed Gary Rocheleau as a senior adviser.  

Rocheleau, who has more than 40 years of experience, will be responsible for developing business solutions, consulting and expanding efforts in the retail channel.

Big Lots has appointed former Kmart executive Andrew Stein as the company's SVP and chief customer officer, as the company focuses more intensely on bolstering its digital footprint.

Sports Authority is trying out a new store format in its first-ever store in Puerto Rico. The 35,000-sq.-ft. location in Ponce opened its doors Saturday, Oct. 19.

The company describes the new format as an intuitive one that allows consumers to easily find exactly what they need. Featuring specialty sport shops and a spacious layout, the store has been designed specifically to enhance the shopping experience.

Amazon.com has announced that this holiday season, thousands of third-party sellers will have the opportunity to participate in its holiday deals promotion program.

Third-party sellers on Amazon will be allowed to offer holiday deals that will be featured on the Amazon holiday deal pages, including its Today’s Deals page. Holiday deals from sellers will appear on high customer traffic merchandising pages which highlight limited-time discounts on holiday items exclusively from sellers.

Sequential Brands Group has entered into five new license agreements to expand the Caribbean Joe brand and has extended the terms of its agreements with three current partners. With five new partnerships, this brings the total list of Caribbean Joe licensees to 25.
 

Hasbro’s brand initiatives for the 2013 holiday shopping season are resonating with consumers and retailers globally as the company saw revenues and earnings grow in the third quarter.

The company’s net revenues for the third quarter increased 2% to $1.37 billion, compared to $1.35 billion in 2012. Adjusted to exclude pre-tax restructuring and other charges, net earnings for the quarter increased 5% to $172.5 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, versus $164.9 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, in 2012.

Chicago -- Although the first government shutdown in 17 years lasted 16 days, it left an impact on more than just the workers sent home after lawmakers failed to arrive at a deal to end the spending and debt stalemate. Total retail store shopper traffic during the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 decreased 7.5% compared to the same time period last year, according to ShopperTrak, a leading provider of shopper analytics.

The Washington, D.C. area saw an even greater decrease, with an 11.4% decline in year-over-year shopper traffic the week of Oct. 6-12.