Retail

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. has named Jim Wade, a 35-year retail veteran, as an independent member of the company's board of directors, effective immediately. He will serve on the company's Audit Committee.

Wade currently serves on the board of directors and Finance Committee for Advance Auto Parts Inc. He first joined Advance Auto Parts in 1994 as treasurer, and retired as president in 2011 with responsibilities including store operations and both the DIY and commercial businesses.  

Ace Hardware will be implementing uStudio’s video platform to drive its sales training processes. The enterprise video platform-as-a-service provider is offering sales presentations and best practices techniques via the video to Ace’s more than 4,800 stores and 70,000 sales staff.

The goal of the video training program, according to uStudio, is for every salesperson to engage with customers more effectively and deliver on Ace Hardware's brand promise: "Being the most helpful hardware stores on the planet."

Albany, N.Y. - Retailers can maximize revenue from drop-shipping by adding health and beauty supplies while staying away from electronics. By analyzing 750,000 products added by retailers on its merchandising and fulfillment platform in a 12-month period, CommerceHub found that the number of health and beauty supply products grew by 92% while increasing revenue in the product category by 130%.

Boston -- The top company initiative among retail supply chain executives is “to enable a seamless customer experience online and in the store.” According to the new 2014 Supply Chain Benchmark Survey from Boston Retail Partners (BRP), this “unified commerce” initiative as the evolution of both multichannel and omnichannel retailing to provide a seamless shopping experience whether in the store, on the Web or anywhere customers choose to shop on their mobile devices.
 

Dublin, Ohio - The Wendy’s Company has extended its partnership and will continue licensing APT’s Test & Learn software for another three years. Wendy’s will use the software to test strategic initiatives in menu changes, remodels, marketing, pricing, and operations across its system of more than 6,500 company and franchise-operated restaurants.

East Rutherford, N.J. - Mark Rickoff, travel retail professional with more than 40 years of experience, has joined Hudson Group as VP business development. Rickoff will have responsibility for building Hudson's business relationships in both new and existing markets.

New York - U.S. retail and consumer merger & acquisition (M&A) activity during second quarter 2014 was driven by eight multibillion dollar transactions, anchored by the food and beverage (including alcohol and retailing) sectors, exceeding year-over-year deal value by 104% and volume by 52%.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Kahala Brands, the parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, has signed a 10-year master franchise agreement with Om Nom Nom Mauritius Ltd. (ONN Ltd.) in Kenya. There are seven stores slated to open during a five-year period and the first location will be in the capital city of Nairobi, scheduled to open in late September.

ONN Ltd. will offer luxury products as well as ice cream to Kenyan consumers.