Mass Merchant

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is closing its Target Ticket online video rental service on March 7. Any unwatched movies customers have already rented must be viewed by that date, or they will no longer be available through the service on any customer device.

DDR Corp.'s board of directors has promoted David Oakes to the chief executive officer post.

Oakes, the company's president and chief financial officer, fills a seat left empty by Daniel Hurwitz, who stepped down as CEO in December.

"After a thorough and robust search process, the board is confident that David is the right person to lead DDR into the future," Terry Ahern, the company's chairman, said. "I also want to thank the team for the terrific job that they have done while the board conducted the search process."

New York -- This special report from Chain Store Age offers a recap of the issues and trends that surfaced at the NRF’s 2015 Annual Convention & Expo (the “Big Show”).

Download the report here and read about retailing’s global outlook, the outlook for online spending, the changing luxury market, hot technology trends and more.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners has named Kevin Boyd as senior VP and co-market leader in the Chicago office. Experienced with local, regional, and national retailers, he will focus on tenant representation while jointly leading the Chicago team.

Niles, Ohio -- Major changes are in store for the retail lineup at the Eastwood Mall Complex, a Cafaro Company shopping center in Niles, Ohio. H&M will open a new 20,000-sq.-ft. store on center court by early fall. Everything Buckeyes, which currently occupies that space, will move to its new location in the Sears Concourse, reopening in mid-March.

Mississauga, Canada – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly expanding its Canadian operation, even as chief rival Target is exiting the country after spending $4 billion in an effort to open stores there. According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart plans to spend $270 million on building 29 new Canadian supercenters and an expanded distribution network to support them.

Washington, D.C. – President Obama is not pleased with how Staples and other large U.S. companies are handling employee health benefits. In an interview with BuzzFeed, Obama said that Staples and other corporations should not use the Affordable Care Act as an excuse to reduce employee hours or wages.

New York -- Cushman & Wakefield announced today that the real estate firm has been appointed exclusive leasing agent for the retail space at 2 Herald Square.

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s largest shopping district, 2 Herald Square touts 60,500 sq. ft. of available space spread among three floors. It features a 75-ft. storefront right across from Macy’s, and neighbors including H&M’s new Herald Square flagship, The Gap, and Victoria’s Secret’s international flagship.