Retail

New York – Brooks Brothers is connecting data to the customer experience in order to replicate the highly personalized shopping environment of its stores on its e-commerce site.

“We are connectors,” Cindy L. Hicks, director of analytics for Brooks Brothers, told the audience during a session at last week’s Internet Retailer conference in Chicago. “Our job is to connect data to the customer experience with a software package.”

Naperville, Ill. – OfficeMax shareholders will vote on a proposed merger with Office Depot on July 10, in a special meeting to be in Naperville, Ill. Shareholders of record as of May 28, 2013 are eligible to participate.

Shareholders will vote on a merger initially announced by OfficeMax and Office Depot on February 20, 2013. The merger process is ongoing and the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of this year subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

By Lee Cote, [email protected]

New York -- Amazon.com confirmed it is testing its online grocery delivery service in Los Angeles.

The online retail giant has been testing the service called Amazonfresh, in Seattle for several years. It confirmed Monday that it is now offering the service in Los Angeles, also on a trial basis. Reuters recently reported that the online retail giant will next target the San Francisco area.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores  held its annual shareholders meeting on Friday morning and the most noteworthy development at the event — aside from a $15 billion share repurchase authorization — was a surprise appearance and glowing comments by Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise.

Salt Lake City – Overstock.com has promoted Brian Popelka to the position of senior VP, customer and partner care. Popelka, who previously served as VP of customer care, will take on management of Overtock’s drop ship fulfillment partnerships along with his existing responsibilities for strategic direction and operational effectiveness of customer care.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores names Brad Rogers as senior VP real estate. He replaces Keith Gehl, who retires from the company at the end of June.
   
Rogers joined Family Dollar in 1998 as a real estate manager with responsibility for new store development in North and South Carolina. Between 2006 and 2011, Rogers assumed greater roles with increased responsibilities, and in 2011, he was named VP real estate.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. on Thursday took the wraps off its highly anticipated home department in more than 500 stores nationwide. The new department is made up of a collection of branded in-store shops, including Michael Graves Design, MarthaCelebrations, Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler, and Design by Conran. Each brand is presented in a boutique-like setting, with its own distinct look. The spaces range from about 300 sq. ft. to about 800 sq. ft. each.