Sales & Marketing

Sausalito, Calif. - Retailers dominated a list of the worst companies in the U.S. to work, taking eight of the top 11 spots. According to a report from corporate review site Glassdoor.com, Books-A-Million is the worst company to work for in the U.S., with common employee complaints including low pay, high stress and limited promotion opportunities.

Intense price competition during back-to-school season is nothing new, but the competition now occurs on the shifting sands of an increasingly dynamic online world.

New York — Dear Rivington, a designer fashion boutique selling clothing, eyewear, pottery and jewelry, has signed a lease to relocate to a new location in the NoHo district of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The 3,300-sq.-ft. store features 2,000 sq. ft. of ground floor space with high ceilings and a skylight. The 1,300-sq.-ft. lower level has also been fitted out for retail and not just storage.

The distinctive storefront features oversized barn style doors that give the store a private feel.

Brussels, Belgium - Delhaize Group has appointed Kevin Holt as CEO for Delhaize America. Holt, formerly president of retail operations at Supervalu, will also become a member of the Delhaize Group executive committee and will start effective July 7 and lead the group’s U.S. operations.

Retailer H&M showed off items from its summer fashion line with a summer camp-themed event in Brooklyn.

Following a preview of the fashion retailer, guests participated in postcard writing activities and played Ping-Pong, culminating in a performance by Zoe Kravitz’s band, Lolawolf, around a campfire.

"I think H&M does a really great job making clothes that are affordable but still fashionable and well made,” Kravitz said.

Seattle – Starbucks appears to be targeting afternoon shoppers with new soda and sandwich offerings. Starting June 24, Starbucks is expanding its cold beverage portfolio with the addition of Fizzio handcrafted sodas at about 3,500 U.S. locations.

Fizzio sodas are carbonated fresh behind the counter and debut in three flavors. Starbucks estimates the global carbonated beverage market is worth $415 billion.

Victor, N.Y. -- Bass Pro Shops announced plans for a new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Victor, New York, which is part of the Rochester metro area. The 145,000-sq.-ft. store will be the primary anchor for Fishers Ridge, a 96-acre mixed-use development. The store has a tentative opening date of 2016.

This will be the company’s third store in New York, as it currently operates stores in Auburn and Utica. This will be the first large-format store in the Empire State.

Green Dot Corporation has hired Thien Truong as SVP of business development and sales. Truong comes to Green Dot from American Express, where he most recently served as VP of retail and mall channels for the U.S. Payment Options group.

While at American Express, Truong led the expansion of the brand's prepaid solutions, including the nationwide launch of its prepaid card, Serve.