eCommerce

New York -- Another Ron Johnson-appointee and former Apple executive has left J.C. Penney. Ben Fay, who was brought as EVP real estate, store design and development, has left the company, according to the Dallas Morning News. Returning to Penney in an advisory capacity is the chain's former SVP of property development, Tom Clerkin, who took early retirement from the company last year, the report said.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place said Wednesday that current CFO Michael Scarpa has also been appointed COO, effective immediately.

Scarpa will continue to oversee finance, information technology, distribution, logistics and wholesale, and will add store operations, store development and international to his current responsibilities.

Prior to joining The Children's Place, Scarpa was COO and CFO of The Talbots.

New York -- Coach on Tuesday reported that its net income for three-month period ending on March 30 rose 6.2% to $238.9 million amid strong sales in North America, beating analysts’ expectations. The company also disclosed that its longtime president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, will step down when his contract expires next year in order to focus on his own namesake brand, which is owned by Coach. Coach said it is already looking for a successor.

New York -- The National Retail Federation applauded a Senate vote to proceed with debate on S.743, an act to level the sales tax field for online and brick-and-mortar stores.

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement: “NRF applauds today’s Senate vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act and we commend Senators Enzi, Durbin, Alexander and Heitkamp for their skilled leadership in moving this legislation ahead.”


Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. on Tuesday reported a bigger-than-expected first quarter loss on weak sales of wireless phone contracts. The company also reported that it is updating its brand and will begin remodeling select locations with a new look and feel over the next few weeks.

Joseph C. Magnacca, a former Walgreens executive who became CEO of RadioShack in February, remarked on the initial priorities and initiatives underway. Last week, he named a new chief marketing officer and a new SVP store concepts.

New York -- Saks Inc. says it plans to close its Saks Fifth Avenue store in WestShore Plaza in Tampa, Fla., on May 4.

Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks, commented: “This planned closing is in line with our strategy of using our resources in our most productive Saks Fifth Avenue stores. We regularly assess the productivity, profitability, and potential of each of our stores and may determine that a closing is appropriate from time to time.”

Toronto -- Express Inc. announced that its move to parity pricing is now complete. The retailer said it has been working to make cross-border shopping a thing of the past since entering the Canadian market.
 
The company's at-par pricing ensures that consumers across North America can enjoy the same shopping experience and value, regardless of geographical location.

Online shoppers can also take advantage of the parities, including an $8 shipping fee, as well as free shipping on all orders over $125.

Toronto -- Holt Renfrew will open a flagship store in spring 2016 at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. The store, planned at approximately 120,000 sq.-ft., is part of the company's aggressive growth plan, which will result in a 40% expansion of the total square footage of Holt Renfrew's network.

In addition to the new Square One site, a number of Holt Renfrew stores will be renovated and expanded, with some completely rebuilt.