Sales & Marketing

Montreal - Luxury jewelry retailer Riddle’s Group Inc. has selected the ChainDrive Fully-Integrated Retail Management platform from Multidev Technologies Inc. to improve store operations and to automate processes throughout.
         
Riddle’s Group sought out an end-to-end solution, and selected ChainDrive because of its extensive Jewelry Module which provides jewelry retailers with system features and functions that are tailored exclusively for the jewelry business.

St. Petersburg – HSN Inc. is partnering with the Card Services division of Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS) to provide private label credit card services for its Cornerstone business unit. Alliance Data will develop loyalty-driven card programs for five of Cornerstone's seven multichannel brands -- Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road and Improvements – each incorporating a tailored approach for their unique customer base.

Walmart is reportedly raising starting wages for more than 100,000 U.S. department managers and workers in its deli and other specialized departments.

According to the Associated Press, Walmart told the AP that department managers of complex and service-oriented jobs in areas like produce, electronics and auto care, will start at $13 per hour and top out at $24.70 per hour, beginning next month.

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St. Louis - Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. currently expects second quarter fiscal 2015 same-store sales to increase in the low-single-digit range. The retailer issued an outlook in conjunction with its presentation at the Stephens 2015 Spring Investment Conference being held June 3.

The company also expects to report its 10th consecutive quarter of improved operating performance in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Build-A-Bear reported an operating loss of $3.9 million in the 2014 second quarter.
 

Five Below reported an increase in same store sales and profit for the first quarter in the same week the company opened a new distribution center to support its expansion plans. 

Oak Brook, Ill. – Ace Hardware Corp. has promoted senior director of IT business systems Rick Williams to the position of VP of information technology (IT). Reporting to Ace’s CFO, Williams, 49, will play an integral role in further driving strategic technology and systems management for Ace to shape business functions and deliver significant return on investments.

Staples is empowering students to "Make Innovation Happen” with a new program that promotes research, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking.

The retailer's Designed by Students program will allow students from two middle schools, MS88 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Ga., to participate in a curriculum to foster creative thinking and teach students about designing innovative products. The program provides an original, educational experience to students. Staples is donating $50,000 to both schools as part of the program.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys "R" Us on Tuesday named David A. Brandon, 63, the former chief executive of Domino’s Pizza, as its new chairman and CEO, effective July 1, 2015. He will succeed company veteran Antonio Urcelay, who was named CEO in November 2013, who is retiring from the retailer.