Sales & Marketing

Greg Portell, lead partner in the retail practice of global strategy and management consulting firm A.T. Kearney:   

Against all odds, bankrupt RadioShack is still ticking.   An affiliate of Kensington Capital Holdings will acquire RadioShack’s intellectual property after it submitted a $15 million bid, Reuters reported. Kensington is already owned $23 million by the retailer, dating back to a loan it gave the company some two years ago.  

Formula. Format. Familiarity. The retail recipe is tried and true, based on brand dress and standards developed over years and, often, decades. Standards meticulously define everything from the logo to the physical layout of stores. Storefronts, where the visual expression of the brand identity is most evident and most essential, is especially prescriptive. A Barnes & Noble in Miami looks the same as a Barnes & Noble in Minneapolis.   

On the heels of opening its first location in Arizona, West Elm is entering a new state.   The home furnishings retailer, a division of Williams-Sonoma, will open its first store in Maine, in the historic Old Port district of Portland. The 12,000 sq. ft. location will open its doors on Thursday, July 27.   

An industry veteran has been tapped to lead operations at of the nation's fastest-growing fast-casual restaurant companies.    Mod Super Fast Pizza Holdings has appointed  Paul Twohig to the new role of COO,  effective immediately. The appointment comes as the company continues its rapid expansion in the United States and abroad. With Twohig’s arrival, Chris Schultz, former senior VP of operations, will take on the new role of senior VP, international to lead Mod’s development abroad.  

Retailers who fail to promote back-to-college offers and savings this year do so at their own peril.   

Amazon Prime is getting more social as the online giant looks for yet more ways to entice shoppers to buy.    On Wednesday, the online giant launched Amazon Spark, a new shoppable social media feed for its Prime members. Described as “a place to discover things from people who share your interests,” Spark will help Prime users discover — and shop for -- merchandise found across followers’ stories and ideas, according to Amazon’s website.  

Fred's named Jason Jenne as executive VP and CFO. He will replace outgoing CFO Rick Hans, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Hans will stay onboard as an advisor until August 18, to ensure a smooth transition.