Mass Merchant

Another high-end designer is making a limited edition pit stop at a mass market retailer. This time it's Kohl's, which plans to offer a line from Thakoon Panichgul this fall.

The designer will work on the seventh installment of the retailer’s DesigNation limited-edition collection. Thakoon is a fashion industry favorite and he visited London to inspire the capsule of misses apparel that will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and Kohls.com beginning fall 2015.

Irvine, Calif. -- Tilly’s announced today that CFO Jennifer Ehrhardt intends to resign from Tilly’s to relocate closer to her family and pursue other professional interests. She will continue to serve in the role for an interim period expected to end in June 2015, and will help with the transition process.

New York -- The launch of Target Corp.'s hotly awaited Lily Pulitzer collection on Sunday caused a shopping frenzy, both in stores and online. It also provoked a firestorm of criticism on social media from shoppers and Lily fans, who found themselves shut out of being able to buy product, in some cases, minutes after the line became available.

Staples Inc. has made a change in a key executive position even as the company awaits regulatory approval for a pending merger with Office Depot.

Staples said it has named Peter J. Scala as executive vice president, merchandising, effective immediately. Scala will report to Demos Parneros, president, North American stores and online, and will be a member of the company’s executive committee.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly eliminating the position of zone manager in its stores as part of a plan to strengthen store managers that was first announced in February 2015. According to Bloomberg, Wal-Mart will transfer the responsibilities of zone managers, who oversee multiple departments, to department managers.

New York – Retailers Amazon.com, HSN, Newegg, QVC and Zappos.com were among the 15 companies receiving the highest ratings in the 2015 Forrester Research Customer Experience Index. Forrester data indicates that improving the customer experience is a strategic priority for 73% of businesses, yet only 1% of companies deliver an excellent customer experience.

Chattanooga, Tenn. - CBL & Associates Properties Inc. and Horizon Group Properties Inc. have begun construction on the second phase of The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta. The 33,000-sq.-ft. expansion is scheduled to open before the 2015 holiday season and will bring several popular retailers to the center, including Gap Outlet and Banana Republic.

Texans love their football so what better way to drive traffic at the opening of a new Sam’s Club in Austin than enlisting some of the game’s biggest legends and rising stars.

Sam’s opened a new club in Austin on April 16 and to turn up the heat in a market accustomed to warehouse club shopping the retailer drafted notable players to appeal to fans of every generation.