Retail

New York -- Apple is the most valuable brand in the world, replacing Coca-Cola, which held the top position for 13 years, according to an annual study by brand consultancy Interbrand.
 
Apple’s brand value jumped 28% to $98.3 billion, followed by Google, with a brand value of $93.3 billion. Coca-Cola, which has held the top spot since Interbrand issued its first Best Global Brands report in 2000, fell to third place, at $79.2 billion. (The top 25 brands are ranked below.)
     

Amazon is getting ready for the holiday shopping rush and creating more than 70,000 full-time seasonal jobs across its U.S. fulfillment centers to meet an increase in customer demand — a 40% increase over last year’s seasonal hires. 

In 2012, Amazon converted thousands of seasonal employees into regular, full-time roles after the holidays, and expects to do the same this year. On average, seasonal employees earn 94% of Amazon fulfillment center employee starting wages and are eligible for health care benefits.

Rochester, N.Y. - Teamsters Local 118 members on Monday overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer from Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. that would eliminate the pensions of more than 900 Rochester employees and not provide health care for their spouses. Local 118 will immediately request the participation of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to settle the outstanding contract.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holdings will integrate the Netpulse One digital platform into its FitStudio by Sears online fitness offering.

FitStudio by Sears is an online community providing resources such as exercise programs, video workouts, and expert advice. NetpulseOne will enable FitStudio to deliver an enhanced customer experience by providing the ability to connect to fitness equipment, mobile apps and personal fitness devices as well allowing FitStudio members to set goals and participate in challenges and events.

Chicago -- SMS Assist announced it has appointed Geoffrey Wigner as executive VP of facilities for the Chicago-based technology-driven facilities maintenance and management company.
 

New York -- American Realty Capital – Retail Centers of America, Inc. ("ARC Retail") closed its acquisition of the Tiffany Springs MarketCenter, located in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 26, for a contract price of $53.5 million, exclusive of closing costs. The purchase of the Tiffany Springs MarketCenter represents ARC Retail's third acquisition of a retail power center with multiple credit tenants.

Columbus, Ohio -- JC's 5 Star Outlet, formerly the outlet store division of J.C. Penney, is winding down operations and closing its 15 stores. "Going out of business" sales will start Wednesday, offering shoppers deeper discounts than the usual outlet prices of 25% to 75% off retail.

The 5 Star Outlet stores, which had been designated for closure by J.C. Penney, were acquired by SB Acquisitions in October 2011, and rebranded JC's 5 Star Outlet.
   

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