Mass Merchant

Brand-building expert and consultant Denise Lee Yohn has released her annual outlook for the year,  “Brands to Watch in 2015.”

By Bruce Schanzer and Jennifer Bitterman

By Leela Rao-Kataria

The dynamics of Thanksgiving weekend retail activity continue to evolve, but Cyber Monday still rules with sales that topped $2 billion for the first time ever this year.

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Vera Bradley has hired industry veteran-and former Saks executive— Harry Cunningham as head of store development, effective December 8, 2014.

Cunningham has nearly 25 years of experience in store design and visual  merchandising. He has been with Saks Fifth Avenue since 2006, most recently as senior VP of store planning, design and visual merchandising.

Prior to that, he held various visual merchandising roles of increasing responsibility with Liz Claiborne, Saks Department Store Group and Dillard's.

A federal judge says several banks suing Target Corp. over its 2013 data breach have a plausible case for negligence and can proceed with the lawsuit.

San Luis Obispo, Calif. - Omnichannel retailers that provide cross-channel offers to their customers are the big winners emerging from this year’s “Cyber Week.” Data from Shopatron shows that forcing customers into buying frenzies on specific days is losing favor, and that retailers who focus on meeting cross-channel consumer demand with ever increasing levels of service are realizing the benefits.

Bridgeport, Connecticut - A major Northeastern waterfront project has achieved lift-off. Bridgeport Landing Development, a subsidiary of The RCI Group, announced that it has completed the $15-million Phase I infrastructure improvements at its mixed-use Steelpointe Harbor project in Southern Fairfield County Connecticut and it has begun going vertical.