Retail

Toronto – Sears Canada CEO Calvin McDonald has resigned to take a position with an unnamed international company. The retailer named COO and executive VP Douglas C. Campbell as president and CEO.

As COO, Campbell was responsible for retail store operations, logistics, replenishment, IT, corporate procurement, and international sourcing. Prior to joining Sears, Campbell was a principal with Boston Consulting Group and also an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

By Laura Wheeler DeYonker, AbsolutData

Recent data from Harris Poll shows that weaknesses in retailers’ pricing, product information and customer service strategies lead 43% of customers to showroom — creating a situation where brick-and-mortar retailers incur all the sales costs and online retailers make the sale.

Software Paradigms International (SPI), a leading global, award-winning retail IT services and solutions provider, has acquired Shiloh Technologies, an Arkansas-based analytic software company for retailers and suppliers.

“This acquisition was strategic, allowing us to extend our product portfolio to provide POS analytics from retailers to their suppliers. It also provides Shiloh clients with the opportunity to leverage our global services and products — providing both companies with endless opportunities,” said Sid Mookerji, CEO and co-founder, SPI.

Rockville, Md. -- Mom’s Organic Market is opening its first Pennsylvania store, in Rosemont Square, Bryn Mawr, which is located outside of Philadelphia.

Orlando, Fla. — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the appointment of Justin Greider to its Florida retail leasing business. Greider joins as a VP to oversee the firm’s retail leasing portfolio. Greider will work with Florida retail market lead John Lambert and senior VP Sean McConnell to provide strategic planning and execution of merchandising plans for the firm’s neighborhood, community and premier shopping centers throughout Florida.

In a digital arena where e-commerce businesses are vying for traffic, Virtual Piggy has continued expanding its footprint — 500,000 users have signed up for its family wallet solution. 

New York -- As more dollars are spent online and consumers become savvier in product knowledge and comparison shopping, retailers must rethink their customer experience strategies.

Chain Store Age’s Webinar, “Creating the Ultimate Experience: Research Shows How to Increase Customer Loyalty,” will provide insight into how retailers can capture more revenue through a consistent and well-executed customer experience. Webinar attendees will receive a complimentary research report detailing the full research findings.

San Francisco – Williams-Sonoma retail brand PBTeen is opening its second store in the Chicagoland area in Oakbrook, Ill., on Sept. 26. The store will operate as a combined location with sister brand Pottery Barn Kids.