Mass Merchant

Top executives within Walmart’s international division have been assigned new responsibilities including a new role for the former head of Asian operations overseeing mergers and acquisitions.

Philadelphia — Century 21 has signed into The Gallery in Center City Philadelphia. It is the iconic fashion retailer’s first location outside of the New York market, according to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, the owner and manager of The Gallery.

A Walmart initiative begun a year ago to offer an online assortment of products from small women-owned businesses has expanded to the retailer’s stores.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Shopping center owner DDR Corp. has installed the third Tesla Supercharger station in its portfolio; the newest Supercharger station is located at Hamilton Marketplace in Hamilton, New Jersey, and represents the third state where a flagship Supercharger station has been activated at a DDR shopping center, following Virginia and Ohio.

Based on current conversations, the relationship could expand to several more locations across the country by year-end, according to DDR.

Former Supervalu and Canadian Tire executive Wayne Sales was named to the board of directors at Toys “R” Us to fill a position vacated by Michael Calbert.

Calbert had served on the Toys “R” Us board since 2005 and the company noted his departure did not involve any disagreement. Calbert also serves on the board of Dollar General and earlier this year resigned from KKR & Co.

Seattle – Nordstrom Inc. plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Winrock Town Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The approximately 33,500-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2015.

The new Nordstrom Rack will be the company's first retail location in New Mexico.

Amazon continues to power ahead with record first quarter sales, solid bottom line improvement and intriguing new initiatives to drive future performance.

Sales increased 23% to $19.7 billion during the quarter ended March 31, compared to $16 billion the prior year. The sales figure was comprised of product sales which grew 18.3% to $15.7 billion and service sales which grew 44% to slightly more than $4 billion. The company’s fulfillment costs increased 29% to $2.3 billion.

Westlake Village, Calif. -- Paint retailers with well-trained staffers will drive a more positive purchase experience, this according to the J.D. Power 2014 Paint Satisfaction Study.