Sales & Marketing

Redlands, Calif. -- Atlanta-based Arby's Restaurant Group has licensed Esri’s Business Analyst software and business data to help with corporate decision making. Arby's is using the location-based system to more accurately assess its restaurants and trade areas including growing, remodeling, and relocating restaurants.

"Esri's Business Analyst has saved our GIS analyst countless hours and has had a positive impact on the Business Development department," said Dave Conklin, senior VP business development, Arby's Restaurant Group.

New York -- Target will soon stop selling the Amazon Kindle line of e-readers and tablets.

Target representative Molly Snyder said the company is "phasing out Kindles and Amazon- and Kindle-branded products in the spring of 2012,” in a report on CNNMoney.com.

The retailer has declined to comment on the specific date or the reason that the products will no longer be on its shelves. The chain will continue to sell other e-readers, including the Barnes and Noble’s Nook.

Target has done quite well for itself in California, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Ironically, the state with the most extensive network of Target stores also happens to be the one identified as the worst state in which to do business, according to a recent survey.

New York -- Edward Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, presented an ambitious plan on Wednesday to improve the company’s performance that includes updating store layouts and signage and investing in its rewards program, Reuters reported.

“We are not here to just survive. We are here to transform,” Lampert told shareholders at the company's annual meeting, according to the report.

Sears is focusing on better inventory management, having the right fashions and being more customer friendly, the report said.

Peoria, Ill. -- Christopher M. West, COO and partner of Cullinan Properties, announced several additions to the Cullinan team.

Shawn Luesse has been hired as project manager for the Streets of St. Charles mixed-use development in metro St. Louis. Luesse was previously director of development for the G & T Group, based in Champaign, Ill.

Seth Marks has joined the team as leasing representative, assisting with the retail, restaurant and entertainment leasing for The Streets of St. Charles and the Quincy Mall in Quincy, Ill.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. announced Monday that it has appointed former H&M global sales head Stefan Larsson as the new president of Old Navy, effective the end of October.

Larsson replaces Tom Wyatt, who left the company in February.

The move is expected to pay dividends for Gap as it preps to open its first overseas Old Navy store – in Japan – this July.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. reported Tuesday that it swung to a profit of $41 million in the first quarter ended March 31, compared with a loss of $15 million in the same period last year.

Sales fell 3.4% to $2.87 billion, missing Wall Street’s expected $2.89 billion in revenue. Same-store sales at the office supply retailer’s North American stores decreased 6%, and total sales for the division dropped 8% to $1.2 billion, impacted by store closures and fewer selling days.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. has selected long-time H&M veteran, Stefan Larsson, as the first global brand president for Old Navy. Larsson will join the company by October.