eCommerce

NEW YORK — Apparel manufacturer Kellwood Company has named Jill Granoff as CEO. Granoff brings a vast knowledge of the fashion industry and retailing to the position with over 20 years of brand building and executive leadership experience.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports will be flat in May compared with the same month last year, but is expected to see solid year-over-year increases through this summer and the back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Brookstone has introduced automatic free shipping on all orders over $99 through Brookstone.com.

Orders less than $99 will automatically ship for a flat rate of $4.99.  Brookstone has also extended its customer care center hours to provide longer customer support hours and round-the-clock catalog ordering by phone.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Monday announced it has completed its acquisition of certain assets of BioScrip’s community specialty pharmacies and centralized specialty and mail-service pharmacy businesses. The transaction represents a total deal value of approximately $225 million.

New York -- Barneys New York said that it has reached an agreement with its largest lender, Perry Capital and other lenders to significantly reduce the retailer’s debt and improve its capital structure. Under the arrangement, Perry Capital has become the majority owner of Barneys. Under a debt-for-equity swap with Perry Capital, as well as other lenders, Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos and current owner Istithmar World, the chain's long-term debt will fall to $50 million from $590 million. The deal makes Perry Capital the majority owner of Barneys.

By Robin Lewis, [email protected] and Michael Dart, [email protected]

Hollywood, Calif. -- Frederick's of Hollywood Group Inc. has retained Allen & Co. LLC, a New York-based investment bank, to assist the retailer in evaluating and exploring a broad range of strategic alternatives, including a sale of the company or a business combination.

Hingman, Mass. -- The Talbots Inc. said it has received a raised takeover offer of $214.6 million from private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company also said it entered an exclusivity agreement with Sycamore, which will end on May 15.

Talbots said Sycamore had offered to pay $3.05 per share -- slightly higher than the $3.00 per share offer it made in December.

The board of retailer said it continues to evaluate strategic alternative.

New York -- Microsoft Corp. will open a store in Bridgewater Commons, Bridgewater, N.J., on May 16. The store will be located on the mall’s second level, close to the existing Apple store.

The computer giant is also moving into Massachusetts, with a store in Boston. The opening date has not been announced.

We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be opening a new Microsoft Store at The Shops at Prudential Center in Boston!,” the company wrote on its Facebook page and website.
 

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — HumanKind Water, PlateTopper and SnapIt Eyeglass Repair Kit have the distinction of being the winners of Walmart's Get on the Shelf contest -- beating out more than 4,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses to claim the coveted prize of being carried at Walmart.com and in Walmart U.S. stores.