Retail

WASHINGTON — Walgreens president and CEO Gregory Wasson will be the keynote speaker on the second day of Shop.org’s annual summit, as will the company’s president of e-commerce, Sona Chawla. 

New York -- As turmoil continues to surround J.C. Penney, one investor is upping his support of the embattled retailer even as two other large investors leave. Regulatory filings on Wednesday revealed that billionaire investor George Soros has added two million shares to his current 19.98 million in Penney holdings.

The latest investment makes Soros Fund Management Penney’s second-largest investor, behind disgruntled hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

What a difference 30, 20 or even 10 years make when it comes to consumer behavior. Thirty years ago, “24x7 shopping” meant mail-order catalogs. Smartphones, tablets and social media were barely part of the discussion 10 years ago. While observers attribute the rapid pace of change to technological advances, biology may play an equally important role. Scientists have observed that the human brain is incredibly plastic, even in adulthood, constantly adapting to trauma and environmental shifts.

Chantilly, Va. – Operators of franchises are actively involved in the local online and social media presence of their franchise businesses, often funding and controlling digital marketing activities at the local level. A new report from BIA/Kelsey, Local Commerce Monitor Wave 17 (LCM), shows that franchises estimated their franchisors covered, on average, 43% of the online presence costs of their individual businesses, for things like website development, landing pages, enhanced listings and online video

Littleton, Mass. -- Dover Saddlery, a multichannel retailer of equestrian products, announced the hiring of James Cullen to the newly created position of executive VP.

Cullen has over twenty five years of leadership experience in operations, finance and marketing, with particular expertise in the retail and distribution sectors including most recently, among others, Bakers Footwear Inc., and Reeds Jeweler, Inc.

As discount retailers such as TJ Maxx and Saks Off Fifth get comfortable in e-commerce territory, closeout retailer Tuesday Morning is bowing out of the digital space, according to reports.

Alameda, Calif. — Crazy 8 has signed a 10-year lease for a 3,117-sq.-ft. space at the Alameda South Shore Center in Alameda, Calif. The deal will bring the 594,000 open-air lifestyle center up to an occupancy rate of 92%. The new store is slated to open this fall.

SRS Real Estate Partners represented Crazy 8 in the transaction. Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank represented Jamestown, the shopping center’s owner.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands, Inc. has appointed Jodie Simon Friedman as the company’s VP, general counsel and corporate secretary. She replaces Marc Goldfarb, who resigned his position as general counsel and corporate secretary to pursue other opportunities. 

Goldfarb has agreed to remain available to the company as a consultant providing legal services.