Supply Chain & Merchandising

A South African-based company is now the owner of the largest mattress retailer in the United States.   Steinhoff International Holdings NV announced it completed its acquisition of Mattress Firm Holding Corp.    As a result of the completion of the transaction, which was first announced in August, Mattress Firm’s common stock will no longer be traded on the NASDAQ stock market.  

Photo: Vidya Jwala   Overstock.com has nabbed a Walmart VP.   The online retailer named Vidya Jwala as senior VP of demand fulfillment, responsible for overseeing the e-commerce leader’s sourcing, merchandising, supply chain and customer-care businesses.   Jwala joins Overstock from Walmart, where, as VP of merchandising and operations, he focused on merchandising planning, category management, pricing and costing.  

The back-to-school shopping season has barely ended. The east coast is still experiencing a smattering of 90-degree weather. The top trending Halloween costumes haven’t even been confirmed yet. But consumers don't care — for them, preparing their holiday shopping strategies are priority one. Note to retailers: it’s never too soon to follow their lead.  

Consumers’ new ‘buy now, wear now’ mentality it putting them at odds with retailers, many of whom are already pushing outerwear and other cold weather gear.    

Nordstrom is continuing to grow its footprint in Canada.     The retailer on Friday opened its store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, the company's second international flagship location since opening at Pacific Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, last fall.     

Inland Private Capital Corporation has sold a FedEx Ground facility in Zionsville, Indiana, for $37.1 million.   The 303,000-sq.-ft. FedEx center was constructed just two years ago on the property, which covers two land parcels totaling 49 acres in the town 17 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis.  

A first-of-its kind arrangement has saved Aeropostale.    A consortium made up of Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and two of the nation’s largest real estate companies — General Growth Properties and Simon Property Group — announced it has finalized the acquisition of the teen apparel retailer. It is the first time that mall operators have participated in a deal to acquire a retail chain.  

Photo: Brian Cornell
  Target Corp. CEO Brian Cornell made a rousing appeal to the chain’s associates at the company’s annual fall meeting.   "We have 137 days in front of us to turn this into a winning year, to start that second-half rally," he said, the Star Tribune reported.