News

Former Walmart exec to head global e-commerce at Levi
Levi Strauss & Co. has named former Walmart executive Marc Rosen as EVP and president of global e-commerce, effective May 5. Rosen will report to president and CEO Chip Bergh.
So long winter. Retail sales spring up in March
Warmer spring weather spurred continued consumer spending and activity this March. According to the National Retail Federation, March retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.8% adjusted month-to-month and 1.6% unadjusted year-over-year.

Samsung Electronics appoints SVP, customer service

Samsung Electronics America has appointed Rajiv Mehta as SVP of its customer service division.

Since joining the company in 2011, Mehta has been responsible for all customer operations in the United States including its call center, field and depot operations and warranty administration. Mehta also oversees the company’s Quality Assurance Lab.
HSN transforms digital marketing

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- HSN has recognized the ExactTarget Marketing Cloud from Salesforce.com as its “Strategic Digital Alliance” partner for the year for transforming the company’s digital marketing program. HSN awards its Strategic Digital Alliance award to one company annually that delivers innovative business ideas and strategies with the HSN digital team.
NRF urges expedited contract for West Coast ports

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation is urging maritime management and the union representing dockworkers along the U.S. West Coast ports to expedite pending contract negotiations and reach agreement on a new deal well in advance of the expiration of the current contract this summer. NRF believes expedited negotiations would strengthen the supply chain and provide shippers and retailers the certainty they need to utilize the West Coast ports during the holiday shipping period, which begins in July.
Staples takes 3D-printing in-store experience to N.Y. and L.A.

Staples has partnered with 3D Systems, a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions, to pilot 3D printing services in two stores in New York and Los Angeles.

Each store features an immersive 3D printing experience center that lets consumers and small businesses create personalized products and use 3D printing hardware. Customers can also bring in their own 3D print-ready files to have them printed.
Retail Store of the Year 2014 Winners

To view the 2014 Retail Store of the Year design competition slideshow, please log in to your account or take a moment to complete the free registration.

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Click here for a full list of credits.
River's End Trading Company names former Lands’ End exec as CEO

River's End Trading Company, a supplier of apparel and accessories to the promotional products and ad specialty industries as well as the imprinted sportswear and uniform markets, has appointed former Lands’ End executive John Maher as CEO.

The company also announced a capital investment from GCI, a leading private equity firm. Financial terms were not released.
PriceSmart has sharp Q2

San Diego – PriceSmart Inc. reported increases in net earnings and revenues during the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Compared to the same period a year earlier, net earnings rose 14% to $28.3 million, from $24.9 million.

Revenues climbed 11% to $674.4 million from $607.4 million. The opening of two new warehouse club stores contributed to PriceSmart’s fiscal performance.
Top exec changes made at Walmart’s Massmart

Guy Hayward was named CEO of Massmart to fill a position currently held by Grant Pattison, the executive who engineered the sale of a majority stake of the South African retailer to Walmart.

Pattison joined Massmart in 1998 and served as CEO since 2007, helping to engineer the sale of a majority stake in the company to Walmart several years ago. Assuming the CEO role on June 1 will be current COO Guy Hayward. He joined Massmart in 2000 as CFO and was later named COO and also played a key role in the Walmart and Massmart transaction.