Retail

New York -- Saks Inc. said Monday it has launched AT&T Wi-Fi at all 44 retail locations nationwide.

The AT&T Wi-Fi network connects shoppers with mobile tools such as the new Saks Fifth Avenue app, which offers features such as shareable wish lists, fashion look books, event calendars and more. AT&T customers with select Wi-Fi enabled devices will auto-authenticate to the in-store Wi-Fi service, so frequent shoppers will be automatically connected to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Wi-Fi each time they re-visit the store.

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware announced Monday it has rebranded the company as RH, in a move to better position itself as a multichannel operation.

According to RH creator Gary Friedman: "Today's RH is a far cry from the hardware and nostalgic discovery item based business it once was.  … The new branding positions us for the future and reflects our belief that we can curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home."

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. said Monday it has named Rebekka Bay as creative director and executive VP for Gap Global Design, effective Oct. 1.

Bay is most noted for conceptualizing, developing and launching the COS brand for Hennes & Mauritz. She spent five years as creative director at COS.

Bay will be responsible for Women’s, Men’s, 1969, Accessories and Body lines worldwide.

Foothill Ranch, Colo. -- The Clinton Group Inc., a 7% shareholder in Wet Seal, made a formal request on Monday to replace most of the retailer’s current board of directors.

RH is the new name for familiar home goods retailer Restoration Hardware.

The company said the switch to the RH acronym positions the brand to curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home which is reflective of the current positioning and future direction of the luxury home goods brand.

MEMPHIS — Fred's on Friday launched a holiday layaway plan featuring no fees and a down payment of only $1.

"Fred’s realizes that the current economy presents difficult challenges to its customers and Fred's wants to offer as much assistance as it can," Fred's SVP sales and marketing Dave Mueller said. "That’s why we came up with a layaway plan that — with just one dollar down and absolutely no fees — is unlike any others and will stretch shoppers’ dollars during a time when it will be most welcome."

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark said Monday it has named Thomas M. Moriarty as executive VP and general counsel for the company.  

Moriarty most recently served as general counsel at the Celgene Corp., a biopharmaceutical company.

Moriarty succeeds Douglas Sgarro who retired in May after more than 14 years with the company.

With shoppers making fewer trips and impulse purchases, the need to influence them earlier and more frequently in the purchase decision-making cycle is critical for sales success. To accomplish this, consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers and manufacturers are increasingly using cooperative advertising and promotion programs that target shoppers at home when they are most likely to be planning shopping trips and creating lists. As retailers, understanding what your competition is planning for in-home is just as essential to staying competitive as what’s happening in-store.