Retail Execution

Who would argue that mobile has not been an absolutely transformative platform for retail? Communicating with consumers on a nearly 24/7 basis on a computing platform they embrace throughout their lifestyle has transformed retail marketing. E-commerce is a long ago metaphor, replaced almost entirely by m-commerce as smartphones and their larger cousin tablets overwhelm the old PC experience.

This year’s top third-party managers have logged tremendous increases over last year. Take a look.

Editor’s Note: The 25th annual survey of Fastest-Growing Managers surveys new domestic and international third-party management and leasing contracts obtained during the 2013 calendar year and ranks the top performers. As always, the measuring stick is square footage.

Indianapolis – Hhgregg Inc. has hired Troy H. Risch as COO. Risch joins Hhgregg from RadioShack, where he served as executive VP of store operations.

Prior to this, Risch held a variety of operational leadership positions with Target Corp., including executive VP of stores. Risch will assume the COO position on May 5, 2014.

The Estée Lauder Companies have named Christopher C. Giglio as VP, corporate global communications. He will report to Alexandra C. Trower, EVP, global communications.

Houston - Mattress Firm Holding Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Mattress Liquidators Inc., which operates Mattress King retail stores in Colorado, and BedMart retail stores in Arizona, for about $35 million. This will add approximately 75 specialty retail stores to the Mattress Firm company-operated store base in markets where it currently operates, primarily Denver, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur by the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2014, subject to normal closing conditions.

Dallas — Applebee’s has purchased a one-acre pad in Richardson, Texas, from Leon Capital Group. Venture Commercial Real Estate represented Applebee’s in the transaction.

Venture Commercial’s full-service real estate platform includes landlord and tenant representation, property management, land sales, disposition and income property sales. As the D-FW partner of X Team International, Venture is able to serve its clients on a national scale.

Salt Lake City -- Overstock.com, Inc. has promoted Seth Marks to the position of senior VP of merchandising and strategic sourcing for the online shopping site.

Marks began his work at Overstock.com in 2013, and has served as VP of sales and special acquisitions. Previously, he co-founded Big Lots Capital, the special acquisitions arm of Big Lots, Inc., and served there as the VP of merchandising.  He also was chief marketing officer and Acquisition Group president of Tuesday Morning Corp.