Corporate Governance

ATLANTA — RedPrairie, a global supply chain and retail technology provider, has named Gary Conway as EVP and chief marketing officer. In this role, Conway is responsible for RedPrairie’s global marketing strategy, including corporate brand management, customer engagement, product strategy and marketing, and demand generation. Conway will report to RedPrairie CEO Michael Mayoras and become a member of the company’s executive leadership team.  

A funny thing happened on the way to the department store: luxury goods became accessible to consumers online and at increasingly deeply discounted prices. Thanks to a spate of discount websites offering “flash sales” or exclusive, limited-time offerings, the flash sale phenomenon has revolutionized the way consumers shop, offering an entry into the luxury market at a fraction of the price.  

Sam’s Club cashiers could become an endangered species if an expanded test of a payment platform at a new club in Kansas City is embraced by members.

NEW YORK -- Nordstrom has joined such other Washington-based retailers as Starbucks Coffee Company and Amazon.com in coming out in support of  approving Referendum 74, a Washington state ballot measure that seeks to affirm same-sex marriage with voters. (In July, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, pledged $2.5 million in support of the measure.)
 

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target has announced plans to open a new store in Chicago.  The 190,000-sq.-ft. store, to be  located on West Division and North Larrabee Streets, is scheduled to open in October 2013.

To date, Target has announced plans to open 10 Target stores in 2013, including CityTargets in Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco.

NEW YORK -- Consignment chain Second Time Around (STA) announced it is opening three more stores in Manhattan this October, all on the city’s Upper East Side.   

The new locations will bring the company to 36 stores nationwide, with the figure expected to grow to 40 by year end.

New York -- Hudson's Bay Co. announced that it has filed a preliminary prospectus with securities regulators in Canada for a proposed initial public offering of common shares. The company, which has been owned by NRDC Equity Partners since 2008, operates U.S. department store chain Lord & Taylor, along with The Bay and Home Outfitters chains in Canada.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Simon Property Group and Paragon Outlet Partners, Baltimore,  have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop Charlotte Premium Outlets, in Stallings, N.C.

Projected to open in 2014, the outlet center will be 400,000 sq. ft. and will house approximately 100 designer and name brand stores.
  
The project, which is expected to break ground during spring 2013, is a 50/50 joint venture between Simon Property Group and Paragon Outlet Partners.

CANTON, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee Sizzling Donuts, LLC for 16 new restaurants in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
The first restaurant is planned to open in 2013 and the remainder by 2018.
In February 2012, Sizzling Platter, LLC formed the subsidiary Sizzling Donuts, LLC and signed their first multi-unit agreement with Dunkin' Donuts to develop 11 new restaurants in Denver, Colorado, and eight new restaurants in El Paso, Texas, over the next several years.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us announced that it is extending its free layaway program through Dec. 16, due to significant positive response by consumers. The free offer was originally slated to end on Oct. 31. The chain was the first retailer to offer free layaway, starting in September. Since then, other companies have also stepped up with enhanced layaway programs, including Walmart and Kmart.