Sales & Marketing

E-commerce giant Ratuken’s U.S. fulfillment service, Ratuken Super Logistics, has begun to accept Internet currency Bitcoin as payment.

The company will accept payment from its customers immediately for fulfillment services and software delivery through the company BitPay.

Columbus, Ohio — Glimcher Realty Trust announced that Scott Barrett has been appointed to the role of VP development – anchor leasing. In this role, Barrett will lead the development, leasing and design activity associated with anchor, big-box and peripheral land deals across the portfolio.

Macy’s tempered its full year sales forecast after solid second quarter results and growing optimism around omnichannel initiatives weren’t enough to offset a slow start to the year.

Macy’s said sales increased 3.3% to $6.267 billion and same store sales increased 4% during the second quarter ended August 2. Excluding sales in departments licensed to third parties same store sales increase 3.4%. Profits increased to $292 million, or 80 cents a share, from $281 million, or 72 cents a share.

Tampa, Fla. -- Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, has executed its first franchise agreement in Michigan, under which a debut restaurant in Ann Arbor will open summer 2015.

Additionally, the company signed two franchise agreements for single units in Ocala, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The new deals are part of the fast-casual concept's growth strategy to expand its presence in new and existing markets nationwide.

To date, Burger 21 has 13 open locations and 25 franchised restaurants in development.

Amazon launched a mobile point-of-sale solution called Amazon Local Register that gives merchants a low-cost payment acceptance method while providing it with new insights into offline commerce.

Hudson, Ohio – Travis Smith has resigned as president and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Until a replacement has been identified, Jim Kerr, executive VP and CFO, will serve as Interim CEO of the company, while continuing in his current role as CFO.

The board of directors is undertaking a comprehensive search to identify a replacement. In his role as interim CEO, Kerr will partner with Riddi Kline, executive VP of marketing and merchandising, and Tom Williams, executive VP of operations and HR, to manage the business.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Southern department store chain Belk has promoted Jan Clevenger from chair of the company’s Western Division in Birmingham, Alabama, to the position of executive VP and general merchandise manager over Men’s, Home and Kids.

David Luoma has been promoted to succeed Clevenger in the Western Division chair position.

New York – XO Group Inc., parent company of online maternity and wedding retailers such as TheBump.com and TheKnot.com, has named Dhanusha Sivajee as executive VP marketing, responsible for overseeing the brand, consumer marketing, partnerships and communications. Sivajee joined XO Group from AOL, where she served as chief marketing officer for the AOL Brand Group and drove audience growth across AOL's portfolio of digital brands.