Discount Store

Framingham, Mass. -- TJX Cos. is launching its first-ever holiday gift hotline for its TJ Maxx and Marshall stores.

The hotline will be available to shoppers from Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Friday, Dec. 6, and will be staffed by nationally renowned style and gifting experts.

The hotline will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores said Mike Duke will retire as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2014, and will be replaced by veteran company executive Doug McMillon. McMillon, 47, president and CEO of Walmart International, was also named to Wal-Mart’s board, effective immediately.

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko on Monday named Peter McMahon, most recently COO of Loblaws, as its new CEO. Loblaws is Canada’s largest food retailer with over $30 billion in sales.

At Loblaws, McMahon was responsible for supply chain, IT, HR, labor relations, merchandising, store operations and loss prevention functions. Prior to Loblaws, McMahon held various senior level positions with some of the world’s largest retailers, including Wal-Mart in Germany and Japan and Tesco in central Europe.
 

Big Lots has appointed former Kitchen Collection executive Richard Chene as EVP, chief merchandising officer. Chene will oversee all merchandising and global sourcing strategies and execution, including the development and attraction of talent for the organization.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holdings chairman Eddie Lampert is reportedly considering selling the company’s Sears Canada stores. According to the New York Post, Lampert has been quietly consulting banks including Goldman Sachs and reaching out to prospective buyers.

New York — The early bird rate for Chain Store Age's 32nd annual Retail Store of the Year design competition ends on Nov. 29. Retailers, design firms, architects and suppliers are invited to submit entries for the competition, whose regular deadline for submission is December 23, 2013.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores Inc. reported third-quarter profit of $171.6 million, up from $159.5 million a year earlier, on higher sales and gross margins. Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the off-retailer forecast earnings below Street estimates and said it was adopting a more cautious outlook for the quarter.

Tucson, Ariz. — Gordon’s Dollar Plus Store has signed a lease for a 2,586-sq.-ft. apace at River Crossing in Tucson. Gordon’s Dollar Plus Store is licensed by Discount Dollar Store Services of Las Vegas. Plans call for the new store to open in mid-December.

Commercial Retail Advisors represented the landlord, La Cholla and River Road Associates in the transaction. DDSS Real Estate represented the tenant.