Retail

Omaha, Nebraska -- Gordmans Stores on Monday announced that Amy Starr Myers has joined Gordmans' executive leadership team as senior VP of marketing. The retailer also announced that Stacey M. Townsend will launch the Gordmans e-commerce business as VP and general manager of e-commerce.

Myers most recently was vice president of marketing and creative services at Things Remembered, the nation's largest retailer of personalized gifts.

Retailers have long been urged to employ Big Data analysis to uncover big insights into how their business is performing, how their brand resonates among consumers, and whether their customer experience meets expectations. But the new trend in Big Data is applying much more refined analysis at the granular level to uncover small insights that can combine to reveal even larger truths.

Oakville, Canada – The omnichannel Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest kicks off July 7 and at the end of seven weeks, the creator of the next Tim Hortons menu item will be crowned — and they'll win $10,000. New this year, eight finalists will have the opportunity to defend their donut ideas in person to a panel of famous Canadians — Jason Priestley, Jann Arden, Anna Olson and Ben Mulroney.

Newport News, Va. - Marketplace at Tech Center, a mixed-use lifestyle center Newport News, Va., will be the site of several stores and restaurants that cannot currently be found elsewhere on the Virginia Peninsula. These “first-to-market” retailers (with the exception of those that have outlet stores in Williamsburg) that have inked deals include:

• Whole Foods: 35,000-sq.-ft. of retail space
• DSW Shoe Warehouse: 18,062-sq.-ft. of retail space
• BJ’s Brewhouse: 7,400-sq.-ft. of retail space

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced today that Kristin M. Coleman will join the company as senior VP, general counsel and corporate secretary. Coleman most recently served as Brunswick Corporation's VP, general counsel and corporate secretary.

Coleman will be responsible for the oversight and leadership of Sears Holdings' legal business.

Seattle -- Target Corp. on Monday announced three executive hires who will have responsibilities for leading teams across its information technology, e-commerce and digital product teams.

Jim Fisher was named senior VP, infrastructure and operations, Target Technology Services, where he will oversee Target’s technical infrastructure and operations. Immediately before Target, Fisher was senior VP of global infrastructure operations at First Data Corporation.

By Jason Baker and Kenneth Katz, co-founders and principals, Baker Katz

Brooklyn, N.Y. - In partnership with its largest rug supplier, Raj Overseas, West Elm has established a fair trade certified factory for handcrafted rugs in India. Fair trade certification ensures that the rugs are made in safe working conditions and that workers are justly compensated, delivering a premium back to the worker to invest in causes of their choice.