Corporate Governance

Norwoood, Mass., and Dover, Del., are home to two next generation Staples stores reflective of the company’s latest thinking when it comes to serving shoppers in a digital world.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples has launched an "omni-channel" retail concept, opening a location in Norwood, Mass., and Dover, Del. The new format incorporate Staples online and mobile assets into the retail experience.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation welcomed today’s announcement that the Federal Trade Commission plans to investigate patent trolls. 

“Patent trolls are a drain on the economy,” NRF SVP and general counsel Mallory Duncan said. “It’s time for Washington to put an end to this abuse of our nation’s laws. Seeing this issue receive top-level attention from the FTC is a significant development.”

By Ben Anderson and Luge Pravda  

With an estimated 20 new TLDs (Top Level Domains, which is the suffix to the right of the dot) being launched on a weekly basis from August 2013, it’s time for retail brand owners to stop and think about their domain strategy once again.

Now that Walmart U.S. derives more than 66% of its sales from food, consumables and health and wellness related categories, Kroger is more of an immediate threat than Amazon.

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corporation has appointed former Levi Strauss & Co. executive Joelle Maher as the company's new COO.  

At Levi Strauss & Co., Maher was most recently executive VP, president global retail, and prior to that senior VP of Americas multichannel retail, and VP, planning, allocation, stores, store operations and outlet.

She also held executive leadership positions at Lucky Brand Jeans, Old Navy and Macy's East.

GENEVA & LONDON — P&G Prestige has entered into a licensing agreement with Alexander McQueen to manufacture and sell designer fragrance products under the Alexander McQueen brand name.

Grants worth $14 million to five nonprofit groups will provide nutritional education and help feed 1.7 million hungry kids this summer and next.