Data & Analytics

Shopko has named retail industry veteran Peter McMahon as its new CEO.

McMahon has more than 30 years of experience in international retail. Most recently McMahon served as the COO at Loblaws. As COO, McMahon was responsible for Loblaws’ supply chain, IT, HR, labor relations, merchandising, store operations and loss prevention functions. Prior to his time at Loblaws, McMahon held senior-level positions at Walmart in Germany and Japan and Tesco in central Europe.

Irvine, Calif. -- In early 2013, global touch-screen electronic POS manufacturer J2 Retail Systems was acquired by The Aures Group. Having maintained separate operations in the U.S. market for the past nine months, the two companies, J2 Retail Systems, Inc. and Aures Technologies, Inc., have today announced their merger. They will now trade as J2 Retail Systems, Inc.

RadioShack has appointed former Belk executive Mark A. Boerio to the newly created position of SVP, inventory planning and allocation, effective Dec. 3.

He is the latest addition to the leadership team being assembled by CEO Joseph C. Magnacca as the company repositions the brand, revamps the product assortment, reinvigorates the stores, increases its operational efficiency and enhances financial flexibility.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores said Mike Duke will retire as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2014, and will be replaced by veteran company executive Doug McMillon. McMillon, 47, president and CEO of Walmart International, was also named to Wal-Mart’s board, effective immediately.

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack has named Mark A. Boerio to the newly created position of senior VP, inventory planning and allocation, effective Dec. 3. He is the latest addition to the new leadership team being assembled by CEO Joseph C. Magnacca as the company executes its strategic plan to reposition the brand, revamp the product assortment, reinvigorate the stores, increase its operational efficiency and enhance financial flexibility.

Philadelphia – Holiday spending looks strong this year, with 85% of U.S. consumers planning to maintain or increase their holiday spending levels from last year. According to a new survey of 2,000 respondents from Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) and Harris Interactive, of those who plan to spend more, 15% plan to increase spending on electronics, 14% plan to purchase more gift cards, 13% will spend more on apparel and 10% will spend more on home goods.

Nearly nine-in-10 (86%) working consumers plan to spend at least some time shopping or browsing online for gifts during work hours this Cyber Monday. A new RetailMeNot retail trends report also shows that 25% of working Americans plan to actually spend four hours or more shopping online for gifts during work hours that day.

By Shelley E. Kohan, [email protected]

Thanksgiving is drawing near, and with the official start of the holiday now beginning on Thursday (as some retailers will open on Thanksgiving Day), it’s time to talk about the “Giant Turkey” in the room for physical retail stores.