BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

Martin Fry has joined Premier Retail Networks as chief operating officer, the company announced Monday.

Yankee Candle Company president and CEO Harlan Kent is the newest member of the specialty apparel retailer Rue21’s board of directors.

Rue21 is a rapidly expanding specialty apparel retailer that currently operates 810 stores in 46 states

Igloo Products Corp., named Terri Brooks VP strategic accounts as part of a larger sales reorganization and said she would be based in Bentonville.

Katy, Texas-based Igloo said the addition of Brooks to her newly created position and the addition of David D’Auteuil as VP new business development would accelerate the momentum the company has achieved from new product introductions and aggressive marketing.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities announced that Sally Beauty Supply will open a 1,354-sq.-ft. location at Plantation Point Shopping Center, located in Raleigh, N.C.

Sally Beauty Supply will be located between Rapid Refill and Dollar Tree at Plantation Point Shopping Center. The store is slated to open in spring 2012.

Dallas -- Cypress Equities announced that Swim U has signed a lease to occupy 4,592 sq. ft. at Plantation Point Shopping Center, located in Raleigh, N.C.

Swim U is a year-round indoor swim school for kids.

Atlanta -- RedPrarie Corp., a global supply chain and retail technology provider, announced that BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to use RedPrairie’s transportation management system to streamline its transportation operations and reduce costs. The solution is designed to enable wholesale clubs and retailers to improve operational efficiencies by automating transportation tasks and optimizing the planning of shipments. BJ’s Wholesale Club will be able to better monitor carrier performance and shipment activities throughout the supply chain.

NEW YORK — The National Retail Federation has announced the newest executives elected to serve on its board of directors. The announcement was made during NRF's 101st Annual Convention in New York.
Each new board member will serve a three-year term. Macy’s Inc. chairman, president and CEO Terry Lundgren was re-elected to serve another full-year as  chairman of the NRF Board. 

The new executives elected to serve on NRF board of directors include:

• Thomas Belk, chairman and CEO, Belk Inc.

New York City -- The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that it has named five additional retail executives to its board of directors. Each new member, announced during NRF’s101st Annual Convention and Expo in New York, will serve a three-year term.

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers announced a new agreement in which BJ’s Wholesale Club will use the PeopleAnswers’ solution to help select team members in all locations across 15 eastern states.

Every year, in December, Chain Store Age examines the northeastern region — New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island — and, in 2011, there appears to be some positive momentum.

Retail real estate executives will tell you that we’re not completely out of the woods yet, but the industry is certainly inching in the right direction.