Sales & Marketing

New York City -- Starbucks Corp. is closing in on its retail deal with India’s Tata Coffee Ltd., which makes and exports instant coffee and plantation coffee, Reuters reported.

Tata Coffee plans to open a Starbucks coffee shop by the end of this year, the report said.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Von Maur Department Store has announced the promotion of Joy Place to VP merchandising, effective immediately. She will report directly to Melody Westendorf, chief operating officer of Von Maur.

New York City -- Retailers need to respond to technology-savvy consumers by creating digitally rich, easy-to-use, technology-based experiences in the store to expand basket size and increase margins, according to the results of a new survey by Cisco. The survey also found that cross-channel shopping behavior is prevalent and desired by most consumers, with nearly 74% of all respondents conducting online research before making in-store purchasing decisions.

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes announced that Elizabeth Crystal has joined Lane Bryant as SVP, chief marketing officer.

Crystal will develop and lead the brand positioning, marketing, and advertising strategies for the Lane Bryant and Cacique brands. She will serve as the brand strategist, working with senior leadership to elevate and expand the brand's presence, the company said.

New York City -- Menards is considering a new store in a Springfield, Mo., shopping mall -- as long as it isn’t included in the development’s community improvement district (CID), according to an article in the Springfield News Leader.

The Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement chain is planning a 162,000-sq.-ft. store in the Hickory Hills Marketplace, which levies a 1% tax on tenants to help pay back the cost of public improvements at the development.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it has temporarily suspended its efforts to sell its credit card receivables portfolio. The company said it remains committed to selling the portfolio on appropriate terms, but based on discussions with potential partners the company has determined that it is not in its best interests to finalize a transaction at this time.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. on Wednesday announced it is temporarily suspending its efforts to sell its credit-card-receivables portfolio until later this year or early 2013. The company also outlined plans to pay J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. about $2.8 billion, along with a make-whole premium, to retire financing from 2008. The payment, along with a premium, is expected to reduce its fourth-quarter earnings by about 8 cents per share.

Woodland Hills, Calif. — Great American Group, a provider of asset disposition, valuation and appraisal services, has appointed Mike Wyse to a new VP position at the company.

In the new role, Wyse will focus on generating revenue through the cross-promotion of all Great American Group’s services with an emphasis on the retail services sector.