Retail

New York -- The daily-deals website LivingSocial on Tuesday named Gautam Thakar, a longtime eBay executive, as its incoming president and CEO. Thakar heads the e-commerce giant's Shopping.com price comparison site.

He will replace co-founder and outgoing CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy by mid-August.

Atlanta – Aaron’s Inc. on Tuesday said it plans to close 44 underperforming stores in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and continue other cost-reduction initiatives in response to disappointing core business performance. The electronics, furniture and appliances rentals retailer also revised its earnings guidance downward for the second quarter.

The company praised the performance of its recently purchased Progressive Finance unit.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is running month-long omnichannel “Get Pop-Cultured” pop culture promotion during July. The effort promotes books, characters, movies, artists, illustrators and pop culture icons with themed events, author signings, panel discussions, contests, exclusive content, giveaways and prizes, sneak peeks and activities.

Indianapolis – Simon has named retail and real estate executive Stephen Yalof as CEO of premium outlets and senior executive VP of Simon. Yalof has served as senior VP of real estate for Ralph Lauren Corp. since 2002.
 
His 15 years of experience within the retail industry also includes his role as senior director of real estate for Gap. Yalof began his career in real estate at New Plan Realty Trust, and became VP of leasing for their factory outlet business. 

Welcome to CSA First Look, a showcase for new stores and formats. This inaugural edition spotlights the first physical store of  hot Internet start-up Birchbox, the 800,000 members and growing beauty subscription company. Located in Manhattan's SoHo, the  duplex-styled, 4,500-sq.-ft. store combines the hottest new products with beauty services and weekly make-up classes. Similar to the Birchbox web site, the store puts a big emphasis on expert advice and reader reviews, offered via the touchcreens and iPads located throughout the space.  

Greenwood Village, Colorado -- Red Robin Gourmet Burger announced it has completed the acquisition of 32 Red Robin franchised restaurants in the United States and Canada, for approximately $40 million from Mach Robin, LLC and Mach Robin, LLC’s Canadian affiliate.

New York -- Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba increased its valuation to $130 billion less than a month before its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

The new figure is approximately $13 billion more than the company valued itself at in its original filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June.

Alibaba is expected to raise more than $20 billion, which would make it one of the largest offerings ever.

San Diego -- JLL’s Retail announced the firm has been retained by GLL Real Estate Partners to manage Del Mar Plaza, a 75,000-sq.-ft., upscale, open-air shopping center located at 1555 Camino Del Mar, in Del Mar, California.

The property’s tenant mix includes Banana Republic, El Agave Restaurant, II Fornaio, Pacifica Del Mar, Gary’s Studio, Loghman Jewelers, Sunglass Hut, Smashburger, Urban Beach House, Ooh La La, and the newly opened Lorna Jane.