eCommerce

Niwot, Colo. -- Former Wal-Mart executive Greg Sullivan has been appointed general manager of Crocs' Americas region, which includes all of North America, Central America and South America. In this role, Sullivan will be responsible for managing the region's day-to-day operations, including overseeing sales, marketing, finance and human resources functions, as well as the region's wholesale, Internet and direct-to-consumer channels.

Cupertino, Calif. -- Apple Inc. has hired a much-admired fashion industry veteran to run its retail stores. The company announced Tuesday that Angela Ahrendts, CEO of British luxury giant Burberry Group Plc, has been appointed to the newly created position of senior VP of retail and online stores. She will join Apple in the spring from Burberry.

At Apple Ahrendts, 53, will become a member of the executive team and report directly to CEO Tim Cook. She will be the first woman on Apple’s 10-member executive team.

Sport Chalet has elected Miki R. Berardelli, CMO for Tory Burch, a women's fashion clothing and accessories company, to the company's board of directors.

Apple has announced that Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, will be joining the company as SVP of retail and online stores — a newly created position — and as a member of its executive team. Ahrendts will report to CEO Tim Cook.

Ahrendts will be charged with overseeing the strategic direction, expansion and operation of both Apple retail and online stores.

Casual footwear manufacturer Crocs has appointed former Walmart executive Greg Sullivan as the company’s general manager for the Americas region. The region encompasses North, Central and South America.

In his new role, Sullivan will be responsible for managing the region's day-to-day operations, including overseeing sales, marketing, finance and human resources functions, as well as the region's wholesale, internet and direct-to-consumer channels.

Walmart will be opening more small stores next year and beyond as the company pursues a vision of omnichannel retailing that it contends no other company is capable of executing.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon on Tuesday morning shared a message of physical and digital convergence involving an acceleration of smaller format stores and continued advancement of the retailer’s digital capabilities. He suggested multiple times during his presentation that the company has reached an inflection point in terms of building a next generation retail enterprise.

Chicago -- Consumers value the retail store experience on multiple levels and continue to make the vast majority of their purchases in stores, according to a new study from global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney. The report found that the physical store is the channel of choice across all ages (from Millennial to senior citizens) and household income levels (from less than $25,000 per year to more than $100,000 per year).

San Francsico -- iPad POS technology provider Revel Systems will offer PayPal’s mobile payment capabilities as an integrated service within the Revel POS solution.

PayPal’s mobile app, available for iOS and Android, is now directly connected with Revel Systems, allowing users to order ahead at any establishment using Revel’s iPad POS solution. Specific features of the new integration include mobile discovery of nearby businesses accepting PayPal, advance ordering, and PCI-compliant payment security.

New York -- Management consulting firm Kurt Salmon appointed Deanna Emsley as a partner in the firm’s retail and consumer products Group.

Prior to joining Kurt Salmon, Emsley was senior VP of inventory management and corporate strategy for women's clothing and accessories retailer Coldwater Creek, where she was responsible for sales, margin and inventory plans for all channels.

New York -- Chico's FAS is expanding outside of the United States, opening a White House Black Market store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto on Oct. 24. The women's apparel retailer will open its second Canadian location at Square One, Mississauga on Oct. 29, followed by Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket on November 12.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Square One are owned by Oxford Properties Group and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo).Upper Canada Mall is owned by Oxford Properties Group and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).