News

Taubman Centers names new CFO
Taubman Centers named Simon J. Leopold, treasurer and executive VP, capital markets, as CFO, effective Jan. 1.

Leopold will succeed current CFO Lisa A. Payne, who will continue as vice chairman until she leaves the company in March. Payne has been with the shopping center development and management company since 1997. Earlier, she was a vice president of Goldman, Sachs & Co.’s investment banking division.
Coupon printing just got easier
New York-based coupon publisher News America Marketing, which produces billions of coupons annually in the U.S. and Canada, is making the printing of online coupons easier for consumers.

News America Marketing is using new coupon printing technology for it SmartSource.com website that allows consumers to print coupons without having to download coupon printing software. The solution was soft-launched in August, and has seen print success improve by rates approaching 100% from the previous solution.

The Container Store contest challenges students to get creative

The Container Store is teaming up with the Rhode Island School of Design on a contest that invites design students to re-think the organized home.

The goal is to give design students a platform to present their product ideas to The Container Store and the chance to see their ideas produced. The product submissions need to appeal to The Container Store’s consumer.
Target picks L.A. as innovation hub

Twenty-five Los Angeles-area Target stores will be the crucible of innovating its shopping experience, the company announced Wednesday on its blog, A Bullseye View.
Study: Most Americans online, mobile

As statistical revelations go, the fact most Americans use the Internet and mobile phones is not especially surprising, but still significant for omnichannel retailers.

According to the latest Global Media Intelligence Report from eMarketer, 80.8% of the U.S. population, or nearly 260 million people, will go online at least once a month in 2015.
Lower gas prices not helping retailers

Lower gas prices are not significantly altering consumer behavior, according to the latest Consumer Fuels Survey results released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

Although drivers report that the national median gas price fell 25 cents per gallon in the past month and 60 cents per gallon since July, only 22% of consumers say that they will drive more over the coming month and only 15% say that they will spend more on other non-fuels items in the coming month.
Target looking for a few good tech start-ups

Target Corp. has operated an innovation lab in San Francisco since 2013, but now the retailer is eyeing a more accelerated and outward-focused approach to innovation.

In collaboration with Boulder, Colorado-based startup accelerator Techstars, Target is creating a new retail accelerator program that will launch next year in Minneapolis.
Analysis: Target Partners With Instacart As Home Delivery Heats Up

The latest posting from the McMillanDoolittle blog:

Target announced a partnership with Instacart in Target’s hometown of Minneapolis. This is Target’s first experiment with same-day delivery of products, and it coincides with the expansion of their grocery and fresh business.
Reading Is Fundamental at Books-A-Million

Books-A-Million is teaming up with the nation’s largest children’s literacy organizations on a campaign that is sure to appeal to its core customers.

Through Sept. 19, customers at Books-A-Million can make a donation to Reading Is Fundamental. No purchase is necessary to donate, and contributions can be made at all Books-A-Million locations. Customers will receive an exclusive bookmark stating that they donated to Reading Is Fundamental.
Men’s Wearhouse brings acquired company’s warehouse up to speed

Retail acquisitions are never easy, and generally involve significant systems and process overhauls.

The June 2014 purchase of Jos. A. Bank by The Men’s Wearhouse is no exception, as evidenced by its recent upgrade of Jos. A. Bank’s warehouse management.