Retail

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. announced that its chairman and CEO, Glen Murphy, will step down, effective February 1, 2015. He will be succeeded by Art Peck, the president of the company’s growth, innovation and digital division.

Murphy and Peck have worked side-by-side for the better part of a decade as Gap dramatically improved its financial performance while expanding globally, the company said.

New York -- Target Corp. is enhancing the digital experience for its customers. The company is revamping its existing flagship app (with new versions for both iPhones and iPads) and its Cartwheel coupon app, and is also developing a new app for pharmacy, with rollouts scheduled for later this month. The retailer is also in the middle of updating its gift registry app.

Dublin, California -- Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in the Ridgewood Court Shopping Center, in the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi, on Oct. 11. It is the retailer’s second location in the greater Jackson area.

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.  

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Los Angeles -- Sephora, Express, Art of Shaving and Things Remembered are among the retailers using a new, in-mall mobile retail solution from StepsAway.

By Jon Winsett, NPI

As we barrel towards the holiday season, few retail IT executives have as much time as they’d like to work on the challenges that will be waiting for them in first quarter 2015 — including limited funding for IT innovation. Retailers are projected to spend more in the coming year, but nearly three-quarters of that budget will be committed to maintaining the status quo. That leaves little to fund game-changing new IT initiatives that can drive competitive advantage, customer loyalty and profits.

New York -- Delivery Agent announced a deal with online retailer Overstock that will enable consumers with Smart TV and connected device homes to shop for items on Overstock directly from their television via Delivery Agent's ShopTV t-commerce platform.

Running now through Oct. 15, the "Overstocktober" campaign will enable viewers to buy products directly from Overstock television commercials.

Reston, Va. -- Consumers have high expectations for retail care when shopping via mobile device, and if those expectations aren't met, they'll abandon the experience entirely, according to a new study from Contact Solutions. Fifty-one percent abandon the cart and close the app (lost purchase) when they struggle in a retail app, and 20% stop using the app entirely.