Corporate Governance

Even before Meb Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon wearing a pair of Skechers, a brand not normally associated with running, the footwear company was winning big in the marketplace.

Thousand Oaks, Calif. — A 36,000-sq.-ft. Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market has opened at Thousand Oaks Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Other Marketplace retailers include Chase Bank, Walgreens and Hampton Inn, with Subway and Great Clips slated to open soon. The center serves a daytime population of 75,498.

New York – Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, and Joseph Aquino, executive VP of Douglas Elliman's Retail Group are bringing Philadelphia-based, international Society jeweler, Paul Morelli, to 895 Madison Avenue, at the intersection of 72nd Street.

The jeweler has been a presence at Bergdorf Goodman since 1981. The multi-level first New York store will offer 40 feet of double frontage and face two Ralph Lauren mansions.

Atlanta -- Boutique accessories and jewelry designer Kendra Scott will add two new Atlanta-area stores – one in Buckhead at The Shops Around Lenox, and the other in Alpharetta, at the Avalon Center.

The Shops Around Lenox store opens April 26, and will feature an interactive Kendra Scott Color Bar, where customers can design and personalize one-of-a-kind jewelry.

The Avalon Center store in Alpharetta is slated to open fall 2014.

Usage of Facebook’s social media platform continued to expand during the first quarter with mobile advertising now accounting for 59% of the company’s revenue.

Facebook’s revenues grew 72% to $2.5 billion from $1.5 billion and earnings increased to 25 cents a share from 9 cents a share with operating margins expanding to 43% from 26%. The company also highlighted the fact that mobile advertising revenue now accounts for 59% of total revenue compared to 30% during the same period the prior year.

Washington, D.C. -- The American Postal Workers Union will stage a protest in Staples stores across 27 states on Thursday, in objection to the office supply retailer’s opening of in-store postal counters staffed by Staples employees.

In 2013, Staples launched its postal pilot program, introducing in-store postal services that today includes about 80 stores. According to a report by the Associated Press, the union objects because the program replaces well-paid union workers with low-wage nonunion workers.

Seattle – Starbucks Corp. has filed building permits to open a La Boulange bakery location in Los Angeles. The permits do not specify a time when Starbucks plans to open the new store.

Starbucks purchased the La Boulange chain in 2012 and currently sells La Boulange-branded baked goods in U.S. Starbucks outlets. However, while there are 22 La Boulange stores in San Francisco, this would be the first location outside that market. Starbucks has previously said it wants to expand La Boulange nationally.

Paris – Lacoste has selected Manhattan Associates' Enterprise Order Management solution to orchestrate its omni-channel retail operations and facilitate the company's continued growth. With Manhattan's technology, Lacoste intends to deliver a consistent brand and unified shopping experience to its customers.