Retail

Procter & Gamble Co. has added the former CEO and chairman of Home Depot Inc. to its board of directors.

Francis Blake, 65, joins the board efefctive immediately.

The move comes just a few days after his retirement as chairman of Home Depot. He stepped down from the CEO position in November.

Scott Kessler has been named chief information officer at Belk less than a year after joining the regional department store operator as its top omnichannel executive.   Kessler, who will report to John R. Belk, president and chief operating officer, has served as Belk’s senior vice president of omnichannel solutions delivery since March of 2014.  

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. said it plans to expand its in-store Disney shop concept, currently featured in 565 stores, to an additional 116 stores this year. The retailer also announced a collaboration with the upcoming Disney live-action "Cinderella" movie, including the sale of apparel, dolls and a "deluxe" ball gown with "make-believe 'glass'" slippers based on the costume in the movie.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Retail Solutions Advisors said that it has been selected as the exclusive leasing representative for Towne Square, a 126,374-sq.-ft. community shopping center located in Ocoee, Florida. Towne Square is anchored by Old Time Pottery.

The property is owned by Continental Real Estate Companies, who will continue to manage the center.
 

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.

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.

 Indianapolis -- Simon announced that Krystal Zell has been named senior VP of marketing. In this newly created role, Zell will oversee the field marketing organization for all Simon Malls, The Mills and Simon Premium Outlets.

Zell served as VP of Starwood Preferred Guest at Starwood Hotels & Resorts where she led the loyalty strategy, business development and operations for its Starwood Preferred Guest and B2B loyalty programs.





 

Savannah, Ga. – Specialty discount apparel retailer Citi Trends Inc. reported some encouraging trends in terms of sales for fiscal and full year 2014. Total sales for the fourth quarter increased 15% to $181.1 million, compared with $157.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

Same-store sales increased 13.9% in the fourth quarter. A number of winter storm-related closings in January 2014 and an earlier start to tax refund season the last two days of the month in January 2015 helped boost same-store sales for the quarter.