News

Former Family Dollar exec takes top marketing position at Lowe’s
Lowe's Companies’ chief marketing head Marci Grebstein has left the company after 14 months in the position. The home improvement giant wasted no time in naming a successor, tapping Jocelyn Wong as chief marketing officer, effective immediately. Wong joined Lowe's in September 2015, and most recently served as senior VP and general merchandising manager for the seasonal business. Prior to joining Lowe's, she served as senior VP and chief marketing officer at Family Dollar.
DDR buys Chicago center for $81 million
DDR has purchased a new Chicago center anchored by a Mariano’s supermarket for $81 million. The 137,618-sq.-ft. property is located on 3030 North Broadway in the Lakeview section of town. XSport Fitness, PNC Bank, and Starbucks are tenants in the center along with Mariano’s, a chain Chicagoland founded by former Dominick’s deli worker Bob Mariano, who grew it to nearly 48 stores. The chain is now owned by Kroger.

New chief human resources officer named at Rite Aid

Rite-Aid has named Ken Black senior VP and chief human resources officer, effective immediately. Black, who served as the drug chain’s group VP of compensation, benefits and shared services, will succeed Dedra Castle, who is leaving the company for personal health reasons. Black will report to CEO John Standley, and be responsible for all aspects of human resources, including training, recruitment, talent management, compensation and benefits, labor relations, leadership development and diversity.
Off-pricer announces senior management promotions

Burlington Stores is promoting three key executives, with the appointments all effective January 30, 2017. The appointments include the following: • Jennifer Vecchio, executive VP/chief merchandising officer since May 2015, will be promoted to the newly created role of chief merchandising officer/principal, and will assume responsibility for the merchandise planning, allocation and MIO functions.
Fashion brand brings e-commerce platform in house to drive expansion

On pace to double its online business for fiscal 2016, apparel retailer J. Lindeberg is ready to take control of its e-commerce destiny. The company, known for its men's and women's fashion and golf apparel and accessories, recently launched in Canada, and now has its sights set on digital expansion into North and South America. At the core of this expansion is bringing its operating platform in-house.
Online fashion retailer to try on brick-and-mortar

Eloquii, a fashion-forward online apparel retailer for women sizes 14 to 28, plans to test a physical store. The retailer plans to open a “concept shop” in Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., Women’s Wear Daily reported. The 2,600-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in March. Although only a three-month lease was signed, Eloquii executives see the store as a test to determine the potential for a brick-and-mortar strategy, the report said.
Alibaba makes a bold move to fight fake goods

Alibaba is championing the fight against counterfeit merchandise. In a new alliance with international brands including Louis Vuitton, Samsung and Mars, Alibaba has created an anti-counterfeiting group. Called the Alibaba Big Data Anti-Alliance, the 20-member consortium of industry and technical leaders is working to keep pirated goods off of Alibaba’s e-commerce platform, according to the company’s website.
Best Buy CEO says he’s not leaving

Hubert Joly, chairman and CEO of Best Buy, denied a report that has him taking the helm of a European retailing giant. A report by Reuters, which cited Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico, said that Carrefour, the world’s second largest retailer, had identified Joly as a replacement for its current CEO, Georges Plassat, whose term ends in May 2018.
RPAI acquires mixed-use property for $88 million

A mixed-use project with 103,000 sq. ft. of retail in the western suburbs of Chicago has been purchased by Retail Properties of America for $88 million. Main Street Promenade, a town center style development in Naperville, is 93% leased and includes tenants such as Ann Taylor, Sur la Table, White House | Black Market, and Anthropologie.
Target names new chief marketing officer

Target has made a key addition to its executive team. The discounter has promoted Rick Gomez to the position of executive VP and chief marketing officer, effective Jan. 29. Gomez, currently senior VP of brand and category marketing, has been with Target since 2013. He replaces Jeff Jones, who left Target last summer to become president of Uber.