Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Wallingford, Conn. -- Edible Arrangements has set its sights on the Pacific Northwest for an aggressive expansion campaign designed to open as many as 30 new locations in the near future.
 
Edible Arrangements already has 10 locations in Oregon and Washington and sees significant opportunity for growth, which will be accomplished through franchising. Most of the growth will be focused in the Seattle, Tacoma and Portland areas and the company is currently seeking franchisees with the resources to open multiple locations.
 

SEATTLE — Online shoe retailer, OnlineShoes.com, announced that four in-vogue fashion bloggers will each design a pair of customized 993 Running Shoes by New Balance, and readers will vote on who did it best.  At the end of voting, the winning design will go into production and be sold by OnlineShoes.com as limited-edition footwear. Voters can also enter for a chance to win a pair of custom New Balance running shoes. The contest runs from Tuesday, April 9 through Friday, April 19, 2013.

New York -- Amazon will cement its position as major retail price setter for years to come by exploiting its logistics opportunity, according to a new ResearchFarm report.

Burlington, Mass. -- Avenue Stores Demandware has selected the Demandware Commerce platform to support its omni-channel vision.  

Avenue Stores signed with Demandware in first quarter 2013.

Avenue needed a scalable and comprehensive digital commerce platform to realize its omni-channel vision, and will also utilize Demandware’s web design capabilities to optimize its sites for mobile and tablet commerce, as well as explore opportunities to integrate digital into its brick-and-mortar stores.  

MERRIMACK, N.H. — Brookstone announced that it has accepted the resignation of Stephen Bebis, its president and CEO and a member of the company's board of directors. Bebis' resignation will be effective April 4. Bebis joined Brookstone in May 2012.  

Effective upon Bebis' resignation, James M. Speltz, the company's VP, COO has been appointed as the company's new president and CEO.

Vancouver, British Columbia -- Lululemon Athletica Inc. said that chief product officer Sheree Waterson will be leaving Lululemon effective April 15, in what it described as a “leadership change in the product organization.”

The news comes just weeks after the specialty retailer had to recall its signature Luon-fabric yoga pants from store shelves for being too sheer. The company warned that the move could lead to shortages and dent its profit by up to $40 million this fiscal year.

LOS ANGELES — Sport Chalet has launched a new service that it will give customers the opportunity to order merchandise online and have it delivered the same day.

New York -- Real estate industry veteran Laura Pomerantz said Monday she has launched a new firm, Laura Pomerantz Real Estate, focused on retail and office real estate transactions.

“As the retail landscape continues to evolve and companies re-evaluate their real estate portfolios, we look forward to working closely with our clients to develop both domestic and global real estate strategies that best facilitate growth and defines their brands,” said Pomerantz, founder and president, New York City-based Laura Pomerantz Real Estate.