Consumer Electronics

More than a dozen executives in Walmart’s merchandising organization will begin the new fiscal year with different responsibilities following a restructuring announced on Thursday.

An internal announcement from Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising and marketing officer detailed the moves involving executives with responsibilities for food, consumables, health and wellness, general merchandise, merchandise execution and private label.

Las Vegas -- Walmart and Straight Talk Wireless, America's largest no-contract cell phone provider, announced that starting on Jan. 11, customers in more than 2,000 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com will have access to the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 on Straight Talk's $45 no contract unlimited talk, text and data plan. In addition, Walmart will be offering customers who purchase the phone in the store, a no interest fixed-monthly payments special financing offer for only $25 a month with a Walmart credit card.

Los Gatos, Calif. -- BrightSign that LifeProof has deployed the company’s players in point-of-purchase displays in Best Buy retail stores. LifeProof, a manufacturer of rugged cases for iPhone and iPad, is using 1,600 inline displays in Best Buy’s 800 U.S.-based stores to engage customers and generate sales in the increasingly competitive iOS accessories market.

Old Bridge, N.J. -- Construction and leasing are now under way on Woodhaven Plaza, a new neighborhood shopping center in Old Bridge, N.J.

An iPhone 5 with a $45 unlimited talk, text and data plan is being characterized as an industry game changer by Walmart and its prepaid cell phone service provider Straight Talk Wireless.

Just when things seem to be looking up for Sears Holdings, chairman Edward Lampert will assume the additional responsibilities of CEO following the revelation that current chief executive Lou D’Ambrosio will leave the company for family medical reasons.

News of D’Amrosio’s departure comes as the Sears Holdings preannounced improved profitability for the fist nine weeks of the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending February 2, D’Amrosio’s last day.

Washington, D.C. -- Online marketplace LivingSocial said Tuesday that former Best Buy EVP and CMO Barry Judge has been appointed its new chief marketing officer.

Judge is charged with extending LivingSocial’s leadership in the local commerce space by overseeing online and offline advertising, brand management, social media and communications.
 
Judge first joined Best Buy in 1999 to help the company launch Bestbuy.com.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Lower in-store traffic at GameStop during the holiday resulted in a decline in same-store sales during the first nine weeks of the company’s fourth quarter.

Total global sales for the nine-week period ended December 29 decreased 4.6%, compared to com 2011 holiday sales period. Comparable store sales decreased 4.4%, with U.S. comps of -3.5% and international comps of -6.4%.