Sales & Marketing

Walnut Creek, Calif. – A new study from RSR Research concludes that retailers offering multiple selling channels connect more with consumers and are more profitable than retailers operating a single channel. Virtually every cross-channel selling tactic is being employed by retailers more this year than in 2012, with particularly strong growth in mobile.

Kraft foods split its grocery division into two units – meals and desserts and enhancers and snack nuts – to reduce complexity and improve focus on brand building.

According to the company, the new, standalone business units will allow for even greater focus on brand-building activities while reducing the complexity of managing a portfolio with many distinct brands and product categories.

Kansas City, Kan. -- Stacy Scheelk has signed on as senior director of new business development with RED Legacy. An accredited Certified Marketing Director, Scheelk’s responsibilities include developing partnerships, securing sponsorships, creating specialty retail and increasing ancillary income.

She comes to RED Legacy from CBL & Associates Properties where she most recently served as regional director of brand development.

Lululemon's chairman, Dennis "Chip" Wilson, sold stock worth $50 million just days before shares slumped following CEO Christine Day's resignation, according to a Reuters report.

Reuters goes on to cite a Wall Street Journal report — which in turn cites InsiderScore.com, a site which tracks insider trading and institutional ownership — that Wilson set up plans to sell stock back in December. Wilson founded the company in 1998 and remains its largest voting shareholder.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival said Thursday it has named Kent Zimmerman as VP e-commerce, effective June 3.

Zimmerman, who comes to the footwear retailer from global systems integration and solutions provider Optaros, is charged with overseeing Shoe Carvinal’s e-commerce and omni-channel strategies.

“We believe Shoe Carnival has a tremendous opportunity to grow our e-commerce and overall omni-channel presence in the family footwear industry,” said Cliff Sifford, president and CEO. “

Coppell, Texas -- The Container Store has launched an upgraded mobile web experience in partnership with mobile and multichannel technology provider Usablenet.

The refreshed site was designed to give users a seamless, innovative next-generation mobile shopping experience.

New York -- Washington, D.C. ranks as the nation’s hottest retail market, followed by Greater New York City, a leading developer told Chain Store Age in an exclusive video interview.

To see the interview with Inland Real Estate Group vice chairman Joe Cosenza, click here.

REDMOND, Wash. — Best Buy has landed a partnership with Microsoft Corp. that will allow the retailer to offer a Windows Store at 500 of its locations in the U.S. and more than 100 Future Shop locations in Canada.