Retail

New York -- Facebook hired its first-ever chief marketing officer, Gary Briggs, former marketing chief at Google's Motorola Mobility. He replaces Eric Antonow, VP-product marketing, who has been directing the social network’s marketing efforts since 2010.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation and the Retail Association of Nevada hosted Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., at a retail roundtable discussion. More than a dozen community retailers and small business owners gathered to address the industry’s challenges and public policy priorities.

New York -- Wall Street is reacting to Jos. A. Bank’s news that it is cutting its second-quarter profit and sales outlook, sending shares spiraling downward.

Company CEO R. Neal Black said, “While our total sales declined in Q2, we achieved stability in our gross profit margin rate. Customers did not respond as well to some of our highly promotional, high sales volume marketing campaigns as they did in the prior year.”

Total sales declined 11% in the second quarter.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores lowered its full year profit forecast early Thursday after reporting weaker that expected second quarter U.S. same-store sales at its U.S. division and suggested global economic conditions remain challenging.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s saw net income rise to $36.5 million in the quarter ended Aug. 3, compared with $31 million in the same period last year.

Revenue was flat at $1.48 billion and same-store sales edged up 1%, boosted by strength from ladies accessories and lingerie.

“Positive comparable store sales and gross margin expansion combined with continued expense control enabled us to report another quarter of year over year improvement,” said CEO William T. Dillard II.

Los Angeles — Self-proclaimed beauty and fashion junky, Jennifer Geisman, creator of Beautygrl.com, has begun writing a new fashion and lifestyle blog, “Fearless Fashionista,” for four Southern California retail centers, owned and managed by General Growth Properties.

The centers include Galleria at Tyler, Glendale Galleria, Northridge Fashion Center and Otay Ranch Town Center. The blog is available at each center’s website.

New York -- Sporting goods retailer Sportsman’s Wearhouse is deploying a new tool from Honeywell’s Honeywell Scanning and Mobility group in time for the holiday shopping season. The chain will equip workers in its 46 stores with Honeywell’s new Captuvo SL22 for iPod Touch mobile digital devices.