Mass Merchant

Off-price retailing is hot, but Neiman Marcus is emphasizing what it knows best.    Neiman Marcus will close 10 of its 37 off-price Last Call stores in order to focus on its full-line luxury department stores. Prior to the news, the retailer has already closed three Last Call outlets this year, including its locations at Allen Premium Outlets, Allen, Texas, and Legacy Place in Dedham, Mass.   

Target Corp. announced a major investment for the holiday shopping season.    The discounter said it plans to hire approximately 100,000 employees for the upcoming holiday season, which is up about 40%.    Additionally, Target will hire 4,500 workers at the company’s distribution and fulfillment centers to replenish products to stores and fulfill digital sales throughout the season.   

It only took seven days for Amazon to begin reaping the benefits of its acquisition of Whole Foods Market.  

Face-to-face human contact is not necessary for a brand to make a strong connection with consumers.   

One of the nation's best-performing department stores retailers may soon be out of the public arena.    Nordstrom family members are close to selecting Leonard Green & Partners to help fund a buyout of their namesake department store, reported CNBC, which cited people familiar with the matter.  

Walmart is simplifying its U.S. business as it looks to respond more quickly to the accelerating pace of change in the retail industry.   The discounter is consolidating its six divisional groups into four and its 44 U.S. regional groups to 36, reported Bloomberg.   

Target Corp. has kicked off a partnership with BCG Digital Ventures to conduct a 14-week “innovation sprint.” For the project, BCG's experts (including designers, engineers and investors) are working side-by-side with five Target associates to develop new growth concepts and ideas. (The associates are middle managers from across Target's various divisions, reported the Star Tribune.)  

Michael P. Glimcher, who stepped down as the chief executive of WP Glimcher last year, has been named CEO of Starwood Retail Partners. He succeeds Scott Wolstein, who has taken on a new role as senior adviser to the parent company, Starwood Capital Group.