Mass Merchant

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Samantha Brown, the popular Travel Channel host, has partnered with HSN to launch Samantha Brown Luggage, her first-ever exclusive collection of travel gear. 

"I want to help travelers simplify their lives as they experience the world with luggage that's functional and fashionable at accessible price points," said Brown.

New York City -- Retail real estate columnist Jeff Green has unveiled his newest opine on Chain Store Age’s real estate community website, discussing the impact – both positive and negative – that reducing a store footprint could have on a store’s brand.

Target ranked 49th on a list of the nation’s 100 largest online retailers based on an annual assessment conducted by the research firm ForeSee Results. The firm said that customer satisfaction with e-tailers is at an all time high with an overall median score of 78 on a scale of 100. Target scored a 78 compared with top-ranked Amazon.com at 86 and bottom ranked RueLaLa.com at 70. The company could make a major move up the ranking by this time next year as a major relaunch of Target.com is planned for this fall just as millions of shopper head online for holiday shopping.

LONDON — Wal-Mart Stores' Asda division Asda confirmed that it was exploring opportunities to franchise its George at Asda range in markets overseas.

The company expects to announce its first overseas franchising partner in the next few months with the intention of establishing a small number of pilot stores in the Middle East in the first half of 2012.

George currently accounts for around half of Asda’s general merchandise sales and is already a growing global brand through Walmart stores in seven countries worldwide, the company reported.

Santiago Roces left Walmart with little fanfare or the issuance of a press release last month, which isn’t uncommon for executives at the SVP level at the company the size of Walmart. Nevertheless, the timing of the departure certainly seems curious given that Roces was the guy with the words “small format” in his title and Walmart is about to open the first of its Walmart Express stores and rebrand Neighborhood Market as Walmart Market.

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Terranova Corp. announced that self-serve frozen yogurt concept FreshBerry has signed on to a long- term deal for an 1,800-sq.-ft. space in El Mercado Shopping Center, in Hialeah, Fla.

El Mercado is a Publix-anchored center with additional tenants such as Anna’s Linens, GNC and Pollo Tropical.

FreshBerry has also signed on to join Parkhill Plaza, in Miami, in a long term 1,600-sq.-ft. deal. Parkhill Plaza is a Winn-Dixie-anchored center.

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Jos. A. Bank has opened at Willow Grove Park, in Willow Grove, Pa.

The 4,465-sq.-ft. store is located next to Bloomingdale’s and joins other men’s fashion collection stores Men’s Wearhouse and Tux, Express, J. Crew, Banana Republic and Guess.

By Bill Vetter