Direct To Consumer (DTC)

New York – Online luxury fashion and beauty retailer Net-A-Porter is launching sales of Google Glass on June 23, available to shoppers in the U.S. Net-A-Porter will be selling a limited number of optical and sunglass styles, to be sold as exclusive packages.

Each bundle includes Glass, a frame and shade, a mono earbud, and case for $1,800.

Former Delhaize CEO Dirk Van den Berghe was named president and CEO of Walmart Canada as the retailer eyes long-term growth opportunities including the development of small stores.

Target is giving customers added incentive to shop online by offering free shipping for all orders of $50 or more.

The new policy, which takes effect immediately, excludes oversize and heavy items, which will be subject to a handling fee.

Green Dot Corporation has hired Thien Truong as SVP of business development and sales. Truong comes to Green Dot from American Express, where he most recently served as VP of retail and mall channels for the U.S. Payment Options group.

While at American Express, Truong led the expansion of the brand's prepaid solutions, including the nationwide launch of its prepaid card, Serve.

If the retail industry needed a catalyst for change, one that nearly mandates more efficient and sustainable packaging practices, FedEx recently provided the blowtorch to ignite it.

Plano, Texas -- Reporting to Joel Mussat, executive VP and chief omnichannel officer, Rent-A-Center, Ian Cohen has been charged with working cross-functionally to create a seamless approach to the consumer experience across a variety of shopping channels. His responsibilities include the design, development, and implementation of a digital-commerce solution that ensures customer demands are met.

New York -- Coach plans to shutter about 70 underperforming stores in fiscal 2015, Crain’s New York reported. The retailer, which has been under heavy competitive pressure from Michael Kors and other upscale companies, also gave a disappointing revenue forecast for its current fiscal year.
   

Scarborough, Maine -- Cole Haan is opening a flagship location in the Ginza, Tokyo's premier shopping district. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store debuts the company’s global format. Cole Haan also plans to use the store as a launching point for growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Architecture firm Anderson Architects in New York led the design of the ground-floor store, in partnership with local architects Garde Co.

Los Angeles -- Apparel retailer American Apparel Inc. has fired its controversial founder Dov Charney as chairman, effective immediately, and has moved to fire him as CEO and president. The actions come on the heels of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct by Charney, who has been targeted in sexual harassment lawsuits and charged with allegations of misconduct for years.

New York -- DSW Inc.'s Affiliated Business Group and Yellow Box Corporation will open the first-ever Yellow Box store on June 20, at The Falls Shopping Center in Miami. The store opens on June 20.