Retail

Seattle – Twelve deaf consumers are suing Starbucks over what they claim was harassment at the hands of employees of a lower Manhattan Starbucks store on March 7, 2013.

Los Gatos, Calif. -- French manufacturer, distributor and retailer of high-end women’s lingerie and ready-to-wear apparel Aubade has selected Centric Software as its product lifecycle management (PLM) software provider.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack has unveiled its first branded section of a college bookstore at the University Co-op at the University of Texas at Austin, as part of the retailer’s five-year agreement with NACSCORP, which sports the retailer's new logo.

There has been a recent trend in retail of new dynamic store formats that make the physical store experience more closely mirror the virtual store experience. Examples include Staples “omni-channel” stores that feature kiosks offering access to Staples’ full product inventory and RadioShack’s new concept store in Manhattan that includes interactive product fixtures such as display speakers that customers can test with music from their own personal devices.

Furniture chains of North America have united — in the digital space, that is — in the form of a re-launch of Furniture.com.

Described as a “unique online shopping experience powered by the merchandising and service capabilities of top brick-and-mortar furniture chains,” the partnership includes RoomsToGo, Schottenstein Stores and Leon’s Furniture of Canada.

The retailers will provide sourcing, warehousing and delivery capabilities for the e-commerce site, planned to be re-launched later this year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots EVP and CMO John C. Martin has announced his plans to retire. He will remain with the company until his successor is appointed, and has committed to provide guidance to his successor and the company through May 2014.  

Big Lots has retained SpencerStuart to conduct a search of external potential candidates.

Eagan, Minn. -- Steak buffet chain Buffets Inc. said that it has appointed Keith Kravcik as its CFO. The company also created a new position – director, office of the CEO and corporate administration – and promoted Jackie Fiebelkorn to the slot.

Kravcik will be responsible for all finance, accounting, purchasing and IT functions as well as continuing to strengthen the back office services organization. Fiebelkorn will lead the office for the CEO and oversee administrators throughout the organization.  

Chicago – Parents want to buy food and beverages for their kids that are healthy and appeal to the entire family. Results of a new proprietary study from food processing company Cargill show that 89% of parents said they ask their kids to broaden their tastes, and 69% said they ask their kids to try more adult food.