News

CEO of Pier 1 Imports stepping down
Pier I Imports is on the hunt for a new chief executive. The home décor retailer said that its board of directors had “mutually agreed” with Alex W. Smith that he will step down as president, CEO and a board member, effective Dec. 31, 2016. Pier I’s board is working with Korn Ferry to find a new CEO.
Shoes.com new president to support expansion
Just in time to lead the company’s next growth phase, Shoes.com has appointed Bradley Wilson as president. Most recently, Wilson served as general manager at Expedia, in charge of the Travelocity business. Before that, he served as CMO at Travelocity, growing it to a multi-billion dollar travel marketplace that was successfully sold to Expedia in 2014. He has also held senior management roles at both Nutrisystem and Match.com during their respective and explosive growth years.

Francesca’s raises outlook after strong Q2

Francesca’s Holdings Corp. posted better-than-expected sales and earnings for its second quarter, helped in part by higher online sales. The retailer reported a profit of $10.6 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a profit of $9.3 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales increased 9% to $115.3 million, helped by a net gain of 44 stores over the year-ago period. Online sales rose 37%.
Office Depot expands ‘customer science’ commitment

Retail success is based on a blend of art and science. Office Depot is such an advocate that it is expanding its use of customer insights and dedication to customer science.
Lifestyle brand bringing activewear concept to Midwest

Tory Burch is expanding its fledgling new retail format. The company will open a 2,060-sq.-ft. Tory Sport store at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, in late October. Tory Sport, which launched in 2015, currently has a store in Manhattan’s Flatiron District and another in East Hampton, New York. In addition to the upcoming Mall of America store, it will open a location in Dallas, also this fall.
Athleisure giant stretches ship-from-store commitment

On the heels of announcing plans to open smaller, “local” stores, lululemon athletica hopes to further extend the breadth of its brand by expanding its ship-from-store service — just in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season. The program, which currently encompasses 11 stores, will grow to 65 locations, a move that will streamline fulfillment of online orders, Laurent Potdevin, lululemon’s CEO, said during the company’s fiscal second quarter 2016 earnings call last week.
Mixed-use project slated for up-and-coming Austin ‘hood

A newly formed developer called the Maker Bros. has announced plans to build a $150 million mixed-use project in South Austin, Texas, christened the Saint Elmo Market District. A 40,000-sq.-ft. former school bus factory on the site will be converted into and indoor-outdoor marketplace that will serve as the new home of the Saxon Pub, a celebrated live music hall in Austin. Maker Bros. has apportioned 100,000 sq. ft. of the site for office space, a boutique hotel, and condos.
Kohl’s growing its fulfillment network

Kohl’s comprehensive omnichannel distribution network is about to get even bigger. The department store chain is preparing to open a new distribution center in Plainfield, Ind., just in time to manage the 2017 holiday season.
Cabela’s improves front-line customer strategy

Cabela’s is known for transforming mere customers into raving fans. To elevate these efforts, a new optimization solution will help associates further improve in-store customer engagement efforts, from both tactical and strategic levels.
DSW develops, adopts suite of enterprise applications

The ability to scale solutions as a means of meeting customer expectations is the name of the game in omnichannel success. By adding a new cloud-based retail suite, DSW is modernizing its back-office applications, and adding a new level of flexibility, security and innovation required in an always-evolving omnichannel landscape.