Department Store

Framingham, Mass. – The TJX Companies Inc. has named William H. Swanson to the board of directors. Swanson, 65, is the former chairman and CEO of Raytheon Co., a technology and innovation company specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world.

Target may not have been very successful in Canada, but the retailer has an altogether different strategy for the United States, where it will open 15 stores in 2015.

Target says it plans to open more small store formats than suburban big box stores this year.

The Minneapolis-based retailer will bring its smallest store, TargetExpress, which at 20,000 square feet is about a sixth of the size of its traditional big box stores, to two more metropolitan areas this year with one store slated for Chicago and two for the Washington, D.C., area.

In an effort to boost its appeal to Latina fashionistas, Macy’s has launched a new collection designed by an international Hispanic superstar.

The retailer’s new, exclusive Thalia Sodi collection includes apparel, shoes and jewelry and is available at 300 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com.

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) is in full expansion mode. Along with reporting a 17% increase in fiscal 2014 profits, the company said it plans to open 400 stores in 2015, with most of the openings in the United States and China. It will also enter several new markets, including India and South Africa.  

In other news, H&M is launching a new beauty concept, H&M Beauty, with an initial debut in about 900 stores and online, starting in fall 2015.

Macy’s hopes to ignite passion for the National Heart Association with its Go Red For Women promotions.

The retailer, a founding national sponsor of American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign, will offer merchandise and in-store events this February, all fashioned to bring awareness and funds to the cause of women’s heart health.

New York -- Forever 21 will open a five-level store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, taking over the space that formerly housed an H&M.  

The new Forever 21, which is located on Fifth between 51st and 52nd Streets, is scheduled to open on Feb. 7.

It may be hard to believe (considering its financial troubles), but Sears was the most popular U.S. department store on Facebook during the 2014 holiday shopping season, according to a new study. 

The data also show that Walmart.com was the most popular mass merchant store site.

Purchase, N.Y. – Several major retailers, including Neiman Marcus and Office Depot, have committed to enable MasterPass to provide seamless, secure online transactions for their customers. MasterPass will soon also be available on Blue Nile, Broadway.com, Chegg, Fareportal/CheapO Air, Market America/Shop.com, and Rue La La.

MasterPass enables consumers to pay with any enrolled payment card, anywhere online or in app, using any device and eliminates the need to enter detailed payment and shipping information with every purchase.