eCommerce

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.

PARK CITY, Utah — Skullcandy is relocating certain departments, making changes to its executive team and searching for a new CFO so it can better align its product, marketing and sales functions. 

As such, the company is relocating its marketing, creative, business development and legal departments, as well as certain sales and international personnel to its headquarters in Park City, Utah, and will close the office in San Clemente, Calif., which has historically housed significant portions of these functions. 

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

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.

Cincinnati -- Retail loyalty programs have seen some impressive growth since 2011, according to results of the latest Colloquy Loyalty Census. In 2013, department stores achieved 70% growth in loyalty program memberships since the 2011 Colloquy Census, far surpassing the 26.7% rate of growth in loyalty programs across all sectors tabulated in the 2013 census. The number of department store loyalty memberships is 193.9 million.

Long Beach, Calif. -- Nordstrom announced plans to close its Long Beach City Place Nordstrom Rack store in Long Beach, Calif. Originally opened in August 2002, the 33,000-sq.-ft. store will close to the public in late January 2014.

The company will continue to serve customers at three nearby Nordstrom Rack locations in Lakewood, South Bay and Edinger.

ATLANTA — Newell Rubbermaid has appointed Jeremy Liebowitz as the company’s VP of global e-commerce, a newly created position. The company will look to Liebowitz to lead the acceleration of its online revenue growth worldwide.

WAYNE, N.J. — Lingering cold weather and soft sales in its electronics and entertainment categories caused Toys”R”Us’ net and comparable store sales for first quarter ended May 4 to dip. 

The company reported net sales of $2.4 billion, a decrease of nearly 8% from $2.6 billion for the quarter a year ago. The decline in net sales for the quarter was primarily attributable to a decrease in comparable store net sales, as well as a foreign currency translation impact of $67 million.