eCommerce

New York City -- Shareholders of Jo-Ann Stores on Friday approved a $1.6 billion merger with an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners.

Of all the shares that were voted, more than 99% were in favor of the agreement. Those in favor of the pact represented 82 of outstanding shares. The company expects the deal to close Friday.

The company will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- St. Patrick's Day is here, and QVC is celebrating with 24 hours of Irish programming that will feature an extensive assortment of authentic Irish goods, many of which were created especially for QVC.

During the event, which began at 12 a.m. EST March 17, QVC will offer jewelery, fashion, home decor and othe products from Ireland-based brands. The world-renowned singing group Celtic Thunder is also scheduled to perform several times throughout the broadcast, the company reported.  

Los Angeles -- Guess said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter net income rose 19% on a boost in sales in Europe, Asia and North America.

Guess said it earned $103.3 million, compared with profit of $86.6 million, or 93 cents per share, during the same period a year prior.

Revenue rose 18% to $756.9 million from $642 million. The results beat the expectations of analysts.

Richmond, Ky. -- Charlotte, N.C.-based Crosland LLC announced two new lease signings with Michaels and Chiro One at Richmond Centre, a regional shopping, entertainment and hospitality venue in Richmond, Ky.

Michaels will open a 20,011-sq.-ft. store as a junior anchor tenant in October.

Chiro One opened a 2,127-sq.-ft. clinic in February.

NEW YORK  -- Macy's announced the launch of "Martha Stewart Collection by Serta," a mattress line available exclusively at Macy's. 

Chicago -- Walmart has announced two additional store openings for Chicago, bringing the total number of stores it plans to open in the Windy City by 2013 to six.

The new stores will create close to 1,000 new jobs and nearly 200 construction jobs putting Walmart on the path to meeting the goals outlined in its "Chicago Community Investment Partnership."

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said the stores will bring fresh food and groceries to some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Fameco Real Estate, L.P., announced that Sports Clips has signed five new leases in the Philadelphia region as part of its store roll-out campaign.

In December, Sports Clips’ first area store opened at Park East Plaza in Cherry Hill, N.J. It will be followed by store openings at the Nassau Pavilion in Princeton, N.J., The Shoppes at English Village in North Wales, Pa., Providence Town Center in Collegeville, Pa., and at the Marketplace at Neshaminy, in Bensalem, Pa., in 2011. 

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that, in partnership with Shinsegae, it has opened Paju Premium Outlets, its second Premium Outlet Center in South Korea.

The 328,000-sq.-ft. center houses 160 stores, including international and domestic brands. Strategically located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the center is approximately 50 minutes northwest of downtown Seoul.