Corporate Governance

New York -- Best Buy plans to hire 500 new Geek Squad staffers. The move comes some two weeks after the retailer said it would lay off 600 existing workers in the tech support arm of its business as it looked to focus the group less on basic installation services and more on remote tech consulting. It also comes as Verizon announced it was partnering with Geek Squad to offer services to meet the information technology requirements of small and mid-size businesses across the country.

Darden Restaurants’ recent $585 million purchase of one of casual-dining’s rising stars, Yard House USA, put a spotlight on the brand, which has 39 locations. But Yard House is also generating buzz with its first Boston location, which is located just a stone’s throw away from one of the nation’s most historic sporting venues: Fenway Park.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — LeapFrog Enterprises has named Ray Arthur as CFO.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — For the second quarter, Mattel reported net income of $96.2 million, or 28 cents per share, compared with last year’s second quarter net income of $80.5 million, or 23 cents per share.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart became one of the first retailers to offer a reloadable prepaid card requiring no initial charge to load funds with the launch of its new Halogen Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard offered by Green Dot. In addition to the no charge for loading funds, the card offers free ATM withdrawals from network ATMs, and is available with no bank account, credit check or minimum balance required.

NORWALK, Conn. — LogicSource, a procurement services firm which initially focused on printed materials and related commodities and services, will now offer clients sourcing and procurement of materials for store construction and maintenance, including rollout displays, fixtures, lighting, flooring, mannequins, hangers, gift boxes, bags and exterior signage.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. Markets has promoted David Harris to the position of SVP finance, CFO and principal accounting officer of Stater Bros. Markets, effective June 18.  

New York -- The slowdown in consumer spending is set to continue for the rest of the year, said Moody’s Investors Service in a new sector report entitled "U.S. Retail: Retail Sales Growth Slows Amid a Cautious Consumer.”

Raleigh, N.C. -- Nearly one-third of distribution centers (DCs) are entirely outsourced, according to the Supply Chain Metrics Report by the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Basking Ridge, N.J. -- Verizon Wireless said Tuesday that its green retail store design has achieved pre-certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Volume Program. 

Verizon Wireless is one of only eight retailers in the United States and the only wireless company to achieve pre-certification from the USGBC, according to the company.