Retail

The beautiful people were out in force Saturday night in Southern California to party and support the fundraising efforts of the Motion Picture and Television Fund. The organization hosts an annual “Evening Before” event that precedes the Emmy Awards, which were held Sunday night and is modeled after the “Night Before” fundraiser, which precedes the Academy Awards.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stein Mart announced the appointment of Jay Stein as interim CEO, effective immediately, following the retirement of David Stovall, Jr., who has held that position since 2008.

"On behalf of the board, I want to thank Dave for his service to Stein Mart over the last three years, and in particular, his accomplishments in returning the Company to solid profitability," said Jay Stein, chairman of the board of Stein Mart. "We wish him many happy years of well-earned retirement."

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it will offer an exclusive edition of Tony Bennett's next studio album, "Duets II." The deluxe edition of the album will be available at Target stores and at Target.com beginning Sept. 20. Target previously partnered with Bennett in 2006 for his album "Duets An American Classic." 

“I celebrated my 85th birthday in August and the celebration is continuing with this special gift to my fans,” said Bennett. “I hope they enjoy the extra songs found only at Target.”

NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. said Thursday it plans to open a store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in September 2012.

The 7,000-sq.-ft. store will occupy a space that combines two locations -- 97 Greene Street and 106 Wooster Street. 

The 2012 opening corresponds to Tiffany’s 175th anniversary of its founding on Lower Broadway in the 1850s.

CHICAGO, and COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. — A universal product sustainability score would influence the brand purchase decisions of health and eco-conscious consumers, according to new research from Ryan Partnership Chicago and Mambo Sprouts Marketing.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is teaming up with OptumHealth to become the first to provide "virtual clinics" in a retail pharmacy setting.

Rite Aid announced Thursday the launch of NowClinic online care services at select Rite Aid stores in the Detroit area. NowClinic allows Rite Aid customers to interact in real time with doctors and OptumHealth nurses.

HONG KONG — On the heels of a 98% drop in its yearly earnings, Esprit Holdings said it is divesting its North American businesses and exiting three major European markets.

The company said it is actively looking for a partner willing to acquire its North American operations, which include 93 stores in the United States.

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that U.S. consumer confidence held last week at the second-lowest level of 2011 as the highest number of households in three years said it was a bad time to spend. 

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was minus 49.3 in the period to Sept. 11, near the 2011 low of minus 49.4 reached in May. The buying climate gauge slumped to the lowest level since October 2008.

According to the report, the majority -- nine out of 10 -- of Americans polled had a negative view on the economy.