eCommerce

Wayne, N.J. -- The Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund announced it has made a $1 million donation to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, created by New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie to aid, comfort and rebuild the Garden State in the wake of the devastation that impacted so many children and families.
 

Slidell, La. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties and Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced Wednesday the formation of a 65/35 joint venture to develop Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, La.  

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that women’s formal wear brand Social Apparel, with locations in four New York malls, has leased its first freestanding location at 255 West 34th Street, located between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in Manhattan’s Garment District.

The store includes 1,760 sq. ft. on the ground floor, 1,276 sq. ft. on the mezzanine and 1,540 sq. ft. in the basement.
 

Ashburn, Va. -- Miller and Smith, along with JV partner North America Sekisui House, said Tuesday that The Fresh Market will open a new store at One Loudoun, in Loudoun County, Va.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. specialty grocer will break ground in January 2013 and is slated to open fall 2013.  

South Plainfield, N.J. -- National Retail & Development Corp. announced Tuesday that Dick’s Sporting Goods will anchor Hadley Center in South Plainfield, N.J., joining current anchors Target, Kohl’s, Regal Cinemas and Marshalls.
 
Dick’s will occupy 50,175 sq. ft. and plans to open in late summer 2013, which brings Hadley Center to 100% leased.

The 542,000-sq.-ft. Hadley Center is located in a 1.4 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use development, home to more than 120 companies.

New York -- Jerry McDougal, retail VP for Apple Inc., will be leaving the company, according to a Wednesday report by Bloomberg.

He will be replaced by Jim Bean, a VP in Apple’s finance division.

Company spokesman Steve Dowling told Bloomberg that Bean will be an apt replacement for McDougal, who served under former CEO Ron Johnson for many years.

New York -- A report released Wednesday by MasterCard revealed that Canadian retail sales, which grew just 1.6% in December, trailed the U.S., which also posted less than stellar results for the month.

Sales in the U.S. advanced 2.4% in December.

Canada’s results were particularly disappointing, considering the country’s December sales grew 4.3% in December 2011, according to MasterCard’s SpendingPulse report.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced Wednesday that jewelry chain Signet Jewelers has teamed with IBM on a major e-commerce strategy and digital marketing redesign for Signet's national U.S. store chains, Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry.

The initiative has resulted in consistent sales growth, including a year-over-year increase of 49% in online sales as reported in the company's recently announced holiday sales for fiscal 2013.

By Mike Romano, [email protected]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has appointed J. K. Symancyk as president, just one year after he was named COO for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer.

Meijer, a pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, operates 199 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.