eCommerce

Naples, Fla. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced the election of Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president CEO of Target Corp., as chairman of its board of directors.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as chairman of this exceptional group of industry leaders,” said Steinhafel. “Along with the rest of the Board of Directors, I value RILA and its efforts to champion issues that affect our industry, our workforce and our customers.”

New York City -- John Donahoe, president and CEO of eBay, during a Jan. 18 earnings call expanded on the test of PayPal with retailer Home Depot.

A division of eBay, PayPal is experimenting with extending its on-line payment system to point-of-sale retail locations. In the fourth quarter of 2011, it chose Home Depot as its first national retailer for a limited test at five stores. PayPal plans to widen the pilot to 51 stores in the Bay Area by the end of the month, Donahoe said.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot has acquired Redbeacon, an online home services platform connecting consumers with contractors for their home maintenance, repair and remodeling needs. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Redbeacon's leadership team will stay in place and will remain in San Mateo, Calif.
 

New York City -- Target Corp. is mulling a  new pricing strategy amid increased competition from online and brick-and-mortar rivals, according to reports by the Associated Press and Dow Jones.

The reports said that Target  has sent a letter to some of its key vendors as part of a potential new strategy to bolster its competiveness. The news comes just days before J.C. Penney is scheduled to announce a major overhaul in which pricing is likely to play a key role.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Consumers are looking for a more personalized shopping experience, and are willing to share select details about themselves with their favorite retailers to help educate brands on exactly how, when and where to approach them, according to the third annual consumer survey by IBM.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food announced grand opening dates for its first 14 stores in the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets, with its first seven stores opening on Jan. 26. Seven additional stores will open on Feb. 9.

Beaumont, Texas -- Conn’s announced that it plans to close five underperforming stores during January 2012.

“The closing of the five stores this month is a continuation of our previously communicated plan to evaluate our existing store base and close or relocate underperforming stores. Additionally, we are progressing on our plans to open five to seven new stores in fiscal 2013, in areas with compelling demographic characteristics that we believe are favorable to our business model,” commented Theodore Wright, the company’s CEO.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Walmart is offering consumers the chance to get their product sold on Walmart.com and in Walmart stores in its new contest, "Get on the Shelf."

The nationwide contest is the latest announcement from @WalmartLabs and similar to the popular American Idol television show, contestants will create videos of their latest inventions and the public will vote online for the winners.

DALLAS — JCPenney Co. will host a two-part launch event where senior management will outline its much-anticipated plan of transformation on the mornings of Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 in New York City.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Von Maur Department Store has announced the promotion of Joy Place to VP merchandising, effective immediately. She will report directly to Melody Westendorf, chief operating officer of Von Maur.