Sales & Marketing

NEW YORK and ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Leading global e-commerce marketplace Rakuten Inc. has rebranded Buy.com, which it acquired May 2010, to Rakuten.com Shopping.

Between now and January 30, merchants and consumers will still be able to go to Buy.com to access Rakuten’s U.S. subsidiary. Starting January 31, however, the site url will change to Rakuten.com. Anyone going to Buy.com will be redirected to the new url.

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. reported Thursday that sales for the nine-week holiday selling period ended Dec. 29 fell 6% to $645 million. Same-store sales, including e-commerce, dropped 8%.

The retailer has cut its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter.

AURORA, Ill. – Peerless-AV, a leading supplier of brackets to mount flat-panel televisions and audio-visual accessories, has appointed Hal Truax as managing director of retail sales.

Truax, a 30-year veteran in the audiovisual industry, will be charged with expanding the company's on-the-shelf presence in the U.S., building on the success of retail placements in global markets.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods said Wednesday it has named Charles Castaneda chief merchandising officer for the chain, a promotion from his current position of EVP planning and allocations.

The company has also moved Jay O’Brien from general merchandising manager of footwear to general merchandising manager of sporting goods, to succeed the recently departed Bill Hackett.  

Jeff Schaffer has been promoted to general merchandising manager of footwear.

New York -- Fast Retailing Co., parent to the Uniqlo chain, reported Thursday that net income for the fiscal first quarter jumped 17% to $644.3 million, boosted by strong same-store sales at Japan Uniqlo units.

On Wednesday, the company announced that Uniqlo will continue its U.S. expansion strategy by opening two new mall locations in New York.

The company has raised its annual profit forecast.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club are introducing a new contact lens program for 2013, the retailers said.

The new program will allow customers to visit Walmart's or Sam's Club's website or call a toll-free number to place contact lens orders and have them delivered to their homes, with free shipping available for orders of more than $50. In addition, the two are offering low prices for certain Acuvue, Air Optix and Biofinity lenses, while Walmart is planning to launch its private-label Equate brand in February.

New York -- Winick Realty Group announced that European Wax Center has signed a lease for its first Murray Hill location at 222 East 34th Street, between Second and Third Avenues. The 1,900-sq.-ft., ground-floor store is slated to open this spring.

The store is part of the newly developed retail at the base of 480-unit luxury apartment building The Anthem.

Winick Realty Group is exclusively handling retail leasing on the building on behalf of landlord Rosebud Associates.

More than a dozen executives in Walmart’s merchandising organization will begin the new fiscal year with different responsibilities following a restructuring announced on Thursday.

An internal announcement from Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising and marketing officer detailed the moves involving executives with responsibilities for food, consumables, health and wellness, general merchandise, merchandise execution and private label.