eCommerce

MINNEAPOLIS — After nearly 30 years, Brian Dunn has resigned as CEO and director of Best Buy. According to the company, Dunn's decision to resign was mutually agreed upon with the company and was not the result of any disagreement with himself and Best Buy. Director G. Mike Mikan has been named interim CEO to lead the company while a search for a new CEO is underway. Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy, continues to serve as chairman.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Latin American retail real estate company BR Malls Participacoes S.A. announced Tuesday that they signed a 50/50 joint venture agreement to develop and own outlet centers in Brazil.

The first outlet center of the joint venture is slated to open in Sao Paulo in 2013.
 

Minneapolis -- In a surprise announcement, Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that CEO Brian Dunn has resigned from the company. Company director G. Mike Mikan has been named interim CEO. Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy, continues to serve as chairman.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Walmart Foundation has joined with The Band Perry, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and four of the nation's largest food companies — General Mills, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods and Kellogg Company — to fight hunger this spring. At an event in Nashville, leaders of this effort launched a campaign that will enable millions of Americans the opportunity to get involved by shopping at Walmart or visiting the company's Facebook page today through April 30.

Los Angeles -- CIM Group announced the acquisition of Block 37, a five-story retail center located on the State Street retail corridor in Chicago’s Central Loop.

Block 37 is located directly across the street from Macy’s State Street. It is also in the heart of Chicago’s State Street retail corridor, which boasts a significant concentration of National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places and Chicago Landmark designated buildings and attracts millions of local customers and tourists every year.

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings announced the release of its new iPhone application and introduction to Android Market. The application will follow GNC's successful entry into the smartphone marketplace with its March 2011 launch of the GNC iPhone application, which has received more than 100,000 downloads to date.

In addition to including even more mobile commerce features, the new app features health and wellness resources.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has awarded five small businesses $50,000 in free advertising and cash as part of the “Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs” contest. 

Selected from hundreds of video entries submitted on Staples’ Facebook page (facebook.com/staples), each of the five small businesses will receive a total of $50,000 in local cable television advertising and cash in their home markets.

The winners include:

New York -- Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo will open its first store on the West Coast, in a 29,000-sq.-ft. space in San Francisco, this fall, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Uniqlo is also looking for locations in Los Angeles and other California cities, according to the report. To date, the company has opened three U.S. stores, all in New York City.