Corporate Governance

Saving people money so they can live better is Walmart’s mission globally, now the company just has to convince shoppers worldwide that shopping at stores that offer an every day low price value proposition is the key to their prosperity.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Jewelry will be one of the brightest categories for U.S. retailers this holiday season, according to a new analytics-based forecast by IBM. Jewelry sales are set to hit $2.6 billion In November, up 7.7% over the year-ago period, IBM reported, and $5.4 billion in December, up 4% over last year.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings has begun the staged roll out of Apple iPads and Apple iPod Touch devices, starting with nearly 450 stores nationwide. The move is designed enhance the relationship between customers and associates while improving the overall in-store shopping experience, Sears said.

Boston -- Global private equity firm Advent International announced that Thomas Ryan, former chairman and CEO of CVS Caremark Corp., has joined the firm’s Operating Partner Program. He will advise and work closely with Advent’s investment professionals to identify attractive opportunities and generate post-investment value at retail and healthcare companies globally.

Ryan, who joined CVS Caremark in 1974 as a pharmacist, was appointed chief executive in 1994.

Portland, Ore. -- Ikea officially plugged-in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The initiative is the first such project for Ikea in the United States. Similar installations aa planned at eight other Ikea stores in the Western United States.

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware announced that Lush Cosmetics has selected the Demandware Commerce platform to power three new e-commerce storefronts in North America, including its U.S. English, Canadian English and Canadian French sites.

After evaluating several solutions, Lush felt the power of Demandware’s on-demand model would lessen the administrative requirements of its on-premise platform, while providing them with the freedom to custom-develop and support potential multi-site global deployments.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway reported a 6% rise in fiscal third-quarter profit amid stronger revenue from gasoline sales and cost control efforts. Net income rose to $130.2 million for the period ended Sept. 10, up from $122.8 million, or 33 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 7% to $10.06 billion, from $9.4 billion. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, rose 1.5%
 

New York City -- Gap executives reaffirmed its commitment to reducing square footage at home, aggressive international expansion and online growth during a presentation at Gap Global Creative Center in New York City. Gap also revealed that its online-only Piperlime division will explore a store concept next year and is testing men’s apparel.

Albany, Ore. -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle said Tuesday it has been named as the property and leasing manager for Heritage Mall, a 407,354-sq.-ft. regional shopping center located in Albany, Ore.

Bossier City, La. -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties, developer and property manager of Stirling Bossier Shopping Center, in Bossier City, La., announced the addition of Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Maurices, Mattress Firm, The Joint and GNC to the center’s tenant lineup.