eCommerce

Chicago -- Englewood Construction announced its retail group has begun work on the Chicago market’s first Ports 1961, a luxury apparel retailer, in Rosemont, Ill.
 
“Ports 1961 chose to enter the Chicago area by locating within Fashion Outlets of Chicago,” said William Di Santo, president of Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction. “The retail world is anxiously awaiting the August 1 opening of this world-class fashion outlet mall in Rosemont.”

Boston – Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair.com is launching Inspiration Gallery, a collection of interior design photography that is integrated with the company’s product selection to enable one-stop shopping. Currently in beta, Inspiration Gallery features photos with individual elements that automatically link to online product listings.

West Chester, Pa. -- QVC has named Mustafa El-Rafey to the position of senior VP talent management and rewards. In this role El-Rafey will report to Beth Rubino, executive VP of HR and workplace services, and will lead the development and implementation of a talent management and rewards strategy for QVC. Specifically, he will focus on attracting and retaining key talent, promoting development, performance and accountability, building leadership capabilities, and supporting careers.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. has added nearly 900,000 sq. ft. to its portfolio of third-party management and leasing assignments through the end of the year’s second quarter.

New assignments include co-managing 672,259 sq. ft. of retail properties across Florida and Georgia with Community Reinvestment Partners II. Sembler will handle leasing for most of the properties.

Toronto -- Hudson's Bay Co. said Tuesday it has changed the structure of its senior management, giving two highly regarded veteran retailers greater responsibilities. The company is moving current president Bonnie Brooks to the vice chairman seat and putting in Liz Rodbell – recently minted executive VP and chief merchant – as president.  Both Brooks and Rodbell are highly regarded retail

Oklahoma City -- The vast majority (91.4%) of American consumers plan to give up to three retail gift cards as gifts over the next three months, according to survey results released Tuesday by the Retail Gift Card Association.

However, the survey also found that consumers will continue to keep their wallets tight - only 30.6% of respondents would purchase something they would not normally buy. The rest, 69.4%, said they would spend the gift card on something they needed, or put it toward a larger purchase.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said it has signed a long-term renewal and expansion agreement to continue providing private label credit card services for Orchard Brands, a multichannel retailer of apparel and home products including the Blair, Haband, Old Pueblo Traders and Bedford Fair banners.

TORONTO — Hudson's Bay Company, owner of retailers Hudson's Bay, Home Outfitters and Lord & Taylor, has made changes to the company's executive structure. 

Bonnie Brooks, president of Hudson's Bay Company, has been appointed the company’s vice chair. Liz Rodbell, EVP and chief merchant for Hudson's Bay Company, will become its president. Brooks and Rodbell will report to chairman and CEO Richard Baker. 

A new report from Acosta Sales & Marketing quantifies the extent to which technology usage among shoppers is growing and traditional vehicles are losing their impact to influence retail trips and spending behavior.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — QVC, a global video and e-commerce retailer, has appointed former Starbucks executive Mustafa El-Rafey as the company’s SVP of talent management and rewards. El-Rafey will lead the development and implementation of a dynamic talent management and rewards strategy for QVC.

He will report to EVP of human resources and workplace services Beth Rubino.