PetSmart LLC

PetSmart has named Phil Bowman as EVP of customer experience, effective June 30. He will report directly to president and CEO David Lenhardt.

Bowman has extensive experience in brand building, digital marketing, e-commerce and customer data analytics, as well as the creation of an integrated customer experience. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer at TD Ameritrade, one of the world’s largest online securities brokerage companies.

Despite posting a net sales increase for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, PetSmart’s comparable-store sales missed expectations thanks in part, according to president and CEO David Lenhardt, to a challenging and volatile consumer environment and a competitive market. The company has updated its guidance for the full year as a result.

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. posted a 1.3% increase in net income during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, rising to $104 million from $102 million in the first quarter of the prior year. Net sales increased 1.1% to $1.7 billion, but same-store sales missed Wall Street expectations by falling 0.6%.

PetSmart cited a challenging and volatile consumer environment and a competitive market as contributing to its weaker-than-anticipated same-store sales results.

Retailers are really taking notice of how valuable pop-up shops are as a marketing tool, including PetSmart, which has partnered with the City of Detroit and the nonprofit community organization Detroit Dog Park to set up a portable, pop-up dog park in a vacant lot in Detroit.

Phoenix -- PetSmart has partnered with the City of Detroit and the non-profit community organization Detroit Dog Park to open a portable, pop-up dog park to a vacant lot in Detroit.

PetSmart is hitting the road for its first-ever Inspiration Waggin’ six-city tour in the United States and Canada, and is leveraging social media to promote it.

As the truck makes its way across the country, dogs, puppies and cats will visit retirement centers, university campuses and local spots so people can benefit from a wagging tail and some unconditional love. The Inspiration Waggin’ will make stops in:

Oak Brook, Ill. — Retail Properties of America has announced an agreement to acquire six multi-tenant retail assets through the dissolution of its MS Inland joint venture. The joint venture owns the portfolio, with 20% owned by RPAI and 80% owned by RPAI’s partner. RPAI will acquire its partner’s 80% interest in the six properties.

Longtime Hallmark executive Michael Goodwin was named chief information officer at the nation’s largest pet specialty retailer.

Goodwin will become SVP and CIO at PetSmart effective June 2, after previously serving as SVP and CIO of technology and business enablement at Hallmark, a $4 billion company with more than 2,600 stores and an extensive online presence. PetSmart operates 1,333 stores.