Data & Analytics

Jon Barker was named CEO at Omaha-based online furniture retailer Hayneedle to fill a position previously held by Doug Nielsen.

Barker most recently served as Hayneedle’s president and prior to that was COO. Nielsen will remain as the company’s chairman.

"We have incredible talent in our organization and Jon is an exceptional leader,” Doug said. “I am truly excited to have him lead our company during our next phase of growth.” Doug will continue to support Hayneedle as chairman of the board.

Purchase, N.Y. – MasterCard has entered into an agreement to acquire Pinpoint Pty. Ltd., an Australian provider of loyalty and rewards services to financial institutions across the Asia Pacific region. This acquisition is expected to close in second quarter 2014.

New York - L.L.Bean was ranked number one in online customer service in March 2013. According to monthly benchmark analysis from customer service analysis provider StellaService, LLBean.com showed strength in email and returns, besting all other retailers in those specific service areas.

Target is expanding its online subscription service with a nearly tenfold increase in available items — from 200 to more than 1,500 — and adding a 5% discount on all subscription orders.

The service, which launched September 2013 with a focus on babycare products, now accounts for more than 15% of online sales for eligible items, according to the company. The new expanded program will go beyond babycare to include cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, pet treats and training pads.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Lowe's Home Centers has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty for violating federal rules governing lead paint exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday.  

The chain will also implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide compliance program at its over 1,700 stores nationwide to ensure that the contractors it hires to perform work minimize lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the federal Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule.

Barnes & Noble chairman Leonard Riggio has sold a portion of his holdings of company stock.

Riggio said he sold 3.7 million shares of common stock, after which his holdings are expected to represent approximately 20% of Barnes & Noble’s common stock outstanding.

“After this sale I remain the company’s largest shareholder, a position I feel very good about,” said Riggio. “I love this company and I believe in its future as I do in all of the wonderful people who work here.”

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. has appointed Mary Meixelsperger as CFO effective May 1. Meixelsperger replaces Douglas Probst, who is retiring from DSW on the same day.

Cleveland – The Sherwin-Williams Company reported a slight drop in net income during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, to $115.46 million from $116.18 million. Net sales fared better, rising 9% to $2.37 billion from $2.17 billion.

Christopher M. Connor, chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams, cited strong performance in the paint stores group, with slight offset on domestic sales from severe weather, as helping drive consolidated net sales in the quarter. Sherwin-Williams expects consolidated net sales to rise 8%-14% in the second quarter.