News

Report: Walmart realigns leadership to blend online and stores
Walmart has made some big changes in its executive ranks, bringing together management of its Web and retail teams. The changes, which the chain has not officially announced, come on the heels of media reports that Karenann Terrell would step down as CIO of Wal-Mart Stores on Feb. 24. As reported by CNBC.com, Walmart’s executive realignment includes the following:
Conn’s makes three new executive appointments
Consumer electronics and furniture retailer Conn’s has named a COO, along with heads for logistics and service. The retailer named Coleman R. (“CR”) Gaines as president and COO, effective February 1, 2017. Gaines previously spent seven years at TMX Finance in Savannah, Georgia, a consumer retail finance company, where he was most recently the company’s executive VP of store operations.

European office supplies retailer drives customer conversions

Customer engagement requires visibility into a shopper’s preferences and path-to-purchase behavior. By using a cloud-based platform to merge experiences across a customer’s shopping journey, Office Depot Europe will better understand and meet the needs of each individual customer, regardless of where, when, and how they interact with the brand.
Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City

Saks has given over the 14 storefront windows of its Fifth Avenue flagship to United Airlines to help promote United’s new Polaris business class cabin. (Saks is providing the bedding for United Polaris.) The windows are designed to give passersby the feeling that they are actually walking through the luxurious Polaris cabin. And just in time for resort season, the mannequins that are in some of the windows are decked out in the latest spring fashions.
Amazon promises to put 100,000 Americans to work by mid-2018

Move over Alibaba — Amazon has a new jobs plan too, one with more details and a more immediate window of opportunity.
Amazon poaches Target exec for Prime expansion

One of Target’s rising stars is joining Amazon to drive Prime membership in international markets. Jamil Ghani, Target’s former senior VP of strategy and innovation, will champion the growth of the retail giant’s Prime presence overseas. He will report to Greg Greeley, VP of Amazon Prime, and be based out of the company’s Seattle headquarters, according to ReCode.
Ohio regional mall sells for $31.5 million

Time Equities has acquired Colony Square, a 425,430-sq.-ft. mall in Zanesville, Ohio, for $31.5 million. It’s now the largest property in the company’s Ohio portfolio. The enclosed regional mall is anchored by J.C. Penney, Cinemark, Dunham’s Sports, and the Elder-Beerman department store. Urban Retail Properties will handle management, marketing, and leasing at the property on behalf of TEI.
Jeweler strengthens payment security

Helzberg Diamonds is taking steps to ward off credit card fraud. The jeweler has implemented NCR Connected Payments to mitigate payment card theft and fraud risks for its customers. The cloud-based payment solution provides data and transmission protection, from PIN pad to payment processor, reducing Helzberg’s exposure to potential payment data theft and fraud.
Report: Mobility driving unified commerce

Retailers finally understand that the always-connected consumer expects a personalized, seamless experience wherever, whenever and however she shops. This, coupled with the proliferation of mobile devices, are the catalysts driving the new retail paradigm called unified commerce, according to “2017 POS/Customer Engagement Benchmarking Survey,” from Boston Retail Partners (BRP).
FedEx to offer package dropoff, pickup at Walgreens

FedEx Corp. and Walgreens on Wednesday announced a long-term alliance agreement that will offer convenient access to FedEx dropoff and pickup services at thousands of Walgreens locations across the United States beginning within the next several months.