Sales & Marketing

Duluth, Ga. -- NCR Corp. announced a definitive agreement for NCR to acquire Retalix Ltd., a leading global provider of innovative retail software and services, for a cash purchase price of $30.00 per Retalix share, for a transaction value of approximately $650 million.

NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. is polishing up its social media efforts to more effectively engage with a new generation of shoppers with its launch of From Out of the Blue on Tumblr.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek Inc. announced that co-founder Dennis Pence will retire as president and CEO, effective December 31, 2012. He will remain as a director and continue to serve as chairman of the board until January 1, 2014.

Pence will be succeeded as president and CEO by Coldwater president and chief merchandising officer Jill Brown Dean, effective January 1, 2013. Dean has also been appointed to serve on the board of directors, effective January 1, 2013.

BOSTON — Gillette and its brand ambassador and Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews have kicked off an online debate forum on Gillette’s Facebook page.

With the NFL playoffs just around the corner, NFL fans are invited to show their passion and knowledge of the game for a chance to win weekly prizes and a grand prize trip to Super Bowl XLVII.

New  York -- Tiffany & Co. has launched a new site on Tumblr. The site, From Out of the Blue, captures in imagery and  commentary the 175-year heritage of Tiffany & Co., as well as the glamour and luxury that exemplifies the brand.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. on Wednesday said it will pay a special dividend worth some $3.0 billion to investors, sending cash to its shareholders ahead of a likely increase in the dividend tax. The chain also posted monthly same-store sales that beat analysts' expectations.

“Our strong balance sheet and favorable access to the credit markets allow us to provide shareholders with this dividend,” Costco CFO Richard Galanti said in a statement.

Reston, Va. -- Spending on Cyber Monday reached $1.46 billion, up 17% versus a year ago, making it the heaviest online spending day in history, according to comScore.

Retail e-commerce spending for the first 26 days of the November-December 2012 holiday season rose to $16.4 billion, up 16% versus the corresponding days last year.

Rapidly growing food retailer The Fresh Market experienced a bit of a hiccup with its third quarter results, but president and CEO Craig Carlock contends the company’s long term vision remains intact.

Sales at the 128 unit retailer increased 22.1% to $321.5 million and profits increased 19% to $10.9 million, but analysts were looking for stronger profits and lower expenses. Some also believed the company’s relatively young store base should have produced a same store sales increase stronger than the 5.6% figure the company reported.