Department Store

With consumers’ “I want it now” mentality, today’s retailers seem to be investing in ways to get products to customers faster. Retailers are scrambling to get their products to customers with overnight, same-day, four-hour, one-hour and other delivery options. Such offers help on two fronts: they satisfy the needy customer and give the perception that one retailer is offering more options than others to differentiate the brand.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. has named William (Will) A. Powell as CEO and president. Powell succeeds W. Bruce Johnson, who as previously announced is stepping down as CEO and president.

Dublin, Calif. -- dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, Inc., opened a new store in northeast Las Vegas on June 27. The 22,000-sq.-ft. store is located in Bonanza East Shopping Center at the intersection of North Eastern Avenue and East Bonanza Road, 1.5 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas.  

The newest location brings the retailer’s total store count in the Las Vegas area to four.
 

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area on July 18.  The stores are located in the Wake Forest Crossing in Wake Forest, 15 miles northeast of downtown Raleigh, and the Shops at Cameron in Sanford, 50 miles southwest of Raleigh.  

These openings are part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.  
 

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open new stores in Corbin, Kentucky, and in Middletown, Kentucky, both on July 18.  

The 22,000-sq.-ft. Corbin store is located in the Trademart Shopping Center at Highway 25 and Master Street.

The 25,000-sq.-ft. Middletown store is located in Middletown Commons at Interstate 265 and Shelbyville Road, 14 miles east of Louisville.  

Both are part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.  

Sears Canada Inc. is looking for its fourth CEO in a little over two years as the company seeks to return to profitability.

Sears said Ronald D. Boire will be departing from his position as president and CEO of the company at the end of the summer to pursue an opportunity in the United States. On the same day, Barnes & Noble announced that opportunity is CEO of that company's retail business.

Sears Canada said that Brandon G. Stranzl, chairman of the board of the corporation, has been named executive chairman effective immediately.

Having passed the calendar’s mid-point, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the top 10 most-viewed stories of the year (to date) on Chainstoreage.com.

Middleton, Wis. - American Girl is expanding south of the boarder.

The brand will make its debut in Mexico, opening in-store boutiques in department store El Palacio de Hierro’s locations in Interlomas and Perisur. The in-store shops, ranging in size from 1,500 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft., open July 4.

Mexico marks the second international retail presence for American Girl, which opened its first Canadian store in October 2013.