News

CHICAGO — Hilco Trading has named Farla Efros as EVP and COO of its SD Retail Consulting unit. The move is part of the company's strategic efforts to expand the breadth and depth of its senior management team. In her new role, Efros will be responsible for the firm’s merchandising and strategy practice area.

NEW YORK and SEATTLE -- Amazon.com has expanded its content licensing agreement with CBS Corp. to bring classic series and hit TV shows from CBS Television Distribution and Showtime Networks to Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service, extending the already vast catalog of CBS content available for Prime members to instantly stream, and enjoy at no additional cost.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Fiserv, a global provider of financial services technology solutions, has partnered with Alliance Data Retail Services, a provider of branded credit card programs, to offer e-bill distribution to cardholders of its more than 100 credit programs. This service is designed to provide consumers with increased control over bill payments, as well as the added convenience of viewing and paying bills electronically via 3,800 financial institutions that are part of the Fiserv bill payment network.

WAYNE, N.J. — Gerald Storch, is vacating his role as CEO of Toys"R"Us after seven years of service. He will retain his title of chairman of the board and will continue as CEO until a successor is found.

Storch joined Toys'R'Us in February 2006 after spending more than 10 years at Target in roles of increasing seniority. At Target, Storch helped develop the Super Target concept and grow the company's grocery business. Prior to joining Target, he was a partner at McKinsey & Company, specializing in retail and financial services.

BURBANK, Calif. — Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced that Jazwares, USAopoly and Mattel are among the toy companies it has partnered with to create new products in honor of the 75th Anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2014.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer is investing more than $160 million in new store construction and remodeling.

The investment includes the construction of six new Meijer supercenters and major remodel projects for an additional five stores. Michigan, Indiana and Illinois will each welcome two new Meijer supercenters, with remodel projects planned at an additional four Michigan stores and one Meijer location in Illinois.

CHICAGO — Former Sam's Club exec, Linda Hefner Filler, has joined Claire’s Stores, as North America president, effective March 1. She will report to Jim Fielding, CEO.

In her role as resident, Hefner Filler will be responsible for all operational and strategic initiatives for the Claire’s business in the approximately 1,500 Claire’s stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Shopkick, a shopping app, on Wednesday announced that Nielsen ranked shopkick No. 34 out of approximately 1 million apps in December 2012. While still trailing giants like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter overall, Shopkick dominated the shopping category during the holiday season, with more frequent and prolonged usage than all physical retailers' own apps including Starbucks, Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger and Safeway, the app developer noted. 

STAMFORD, Conn. -- GE Capital Retail Bank, a consumer lending unit of General Electric Company (GE), has renewed its private label credit card program with JCPenney.

The JCP consumer card program provides credit to millions of consumers who shop at more than 1,100 JCPenney stores in communities across the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as online at JCP.com. 

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Carolina retailer Harris Teeter may be exploring a sale, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday evening. 

According to the report, Harris Teeter is being advised by JP Morgan. WSJ tabulated Harris Teeter's market value at $1.8 billion for its 200 supermarkets.