Store Systems

The weather posed a significant challenge for Fred’s in January. According to CEO Bruce A. Efird, Mother Nature not only disrupted consumer shopping patterns, but also resulted in more than 120 store closings during the final week of the month.

“Prior to the last week of January, sales were running in the mid-range of our forecast, with reconfiguration departments leading the way,” Efird explained.

Fred's total sales for January were $134.8 million compared with $173.5 million for the five-week year-earlier period.

Edmonton, Canada -- Sport Chek on Wednesday opened an 80,000 sq.-ft. flagship in Canada's West Edmonton Mall. The store is designed to offer a personalized shopping experience that connects consumers to the sports they are passionate about.

The space includes 800 screens that display product images, promotions and local sports information. It features over 1,200 sq. ft. of digital projection.

Target CFO John Mulligan ably represented the company in testimony before a Senate committee on Tuesday, but the one in the hot seat should have been chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel.
 
Recall when the nation’s bankrupt automakers needed a bailout, it was the CEOs of General Motors and Chrysler who appeared before legislators. And when big banks came under fire for their role in the housing crisis it was the financial firms’ CEOs who endured lawmakers pointed questions.

By Bob Russo, general manager, PCI Security Standards Council

With the latest attacks at big name retailers, the pressure is on for businesses of all sizes to demonstrate that they’re doing whatever it takes to keep their customers’ confidential information safe and out of the hands of the bad guys. But with headlines changing every day on what actually happened and how, many retailers are unsure of where to begin making changes.

San Francisco-based One Kings Lane, an online destination for the home, has appointed Arun Rajan as chief technology officer.

In his new role, Rajan will lead end-to-end technology delivery, data infrastructure and site operations to support the growth and evolution of One Kings Lane.

Rajan joins alongside chief product officer David Yu, who joined One Kings Lane in mid-2013.

New York -- Seattle-based Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Christiana Fashion Center in Newark, Del. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store, which is scheduled to open in fall 2015, is the company’s first Rack location in the state.

The single-level, newly built Nordstrom Rack is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 1, adjacent to Christiana Mall and will be surrounded by a strong tenant mix.

By John Mulligan, executive VP and CFO, Target

Seattle-based Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Christiana Fashion Center in Newark, Del. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. store, which is scheduled to open in fall 2015, is the company’s first Rack location in the state.

The single-level, newly built Nordstrom Rack is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 1, adjacent to Christiana Mall and will be surrounded by a strong tenant mix.