eCommerce

The 2011 edition of Interbrand’s Best Retail Brands report again lists Target in the second position with a value of $23.3 billion in between number-one-ranked Walmart at $142 billion and third-ranked Home Depot at $20.3 billion.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- HSN announced that Mitchell Hara has been appointed SVP corporate strategy/M&A, a newly created position, effective immediately.  He will report directly to Judy Schmeling, CFO of HSNi.

In his new position, Hara will assist with the overall corporate strategy, identifying and developing new strategic initiatives and leading the strategic planning process for the company.  He will also evaluate and oversee potential strategic partnerships and transactions. 

By Kuruvilla Mathew, [email protected]

NEW YORK — Retailers rank supreme for their customer service, according to a new report by the Temkin Group.

 The consulting and research firm analyzed responses from 6,000 consumers, found that Amazon.com ranked No. 1 for providing an "excellent" customer experience, coming in with a ranking of 81.3%. A business qualifies for an "excellent" rating when their score is 80% or higher, Temkin said.

NEW YORK -- Several bidders, including Dish Network Corp. and billionaire investor Carl Icahn, are ready to battle for Blockbuster at a bankruptcy auction in New York on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The chain, which filed Chapter 11 in February, has received several bids other than the opening bid of $290 million from a group of debtholders made in February.

Dish and Icahn have each submitted a bid, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

By Sandra Gold Slon

Who needs an exit strategy? In this economy, most of us are aware of tenants facing difficulties in meeting their lease obligations. If we weren’t thinking about it front and center, it was brought front and center when Borders declared bankruptcy, closing hundreds of stores.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us has selected Neil Friedman, most recently president of Mattel Brands, to serve as president of its U.S. business.

Friedman will oversee all merchandising, marketing, store operations, global sourcing and product development, and allocation for the chain’s 866 U.S. stores and online business. He will report to Toys “R” Us chairman and chief executive Gerald Storch.

WAYNE, N.J. – Toys“R”Us announced that it has named the former head of one of the world's largest toy companies to serve as president of its U.S. business. Neil Friedman, who most recently served as president Mattel Brands, will now oversee all merchandising, marketing, store operations, merchandise presentation, global sourcing and product development, as well as merchandise planning and allocation for Toys"R"Us' 866 stores and online business in the United States.