News

DALLAS  — The growing popularity of Netflix, Hulu and other on-demand video rental services continues to take a toll on traditional brick-and-mortar video rental stores. 

Dish Network reported that its subsidiary, Blockbuster will close about 300 of its stores in the United States in the coming weeks. The closures will result in the loss of about 3,000 jobs and leave the chain with some 500 U.S. locations.

The Ecco shoe brand has engaged the services of Demandware to power its new U.S. e-commerce and mobile commerce site. The company also plans to use Demandware’s cloud platform to quickly and efficiently expand internationally, beginning with Canada.

Ecco products are sold online and in 4,000 branded locations in more than 90 countries. 

A new research report by The NPD Group unveiled information I already knew:  the restaurant space is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the total restaurant count in the U.S. increased by 4,442 units over last year, according to NPD’s recent restaurant census Fall 2012 ReCount.

That’s no small potatoes.

Some 616,008 eateries now dot the country, representing a .7% increase over last year, with the biggest growth coming from the quick-serve segment (up 1% over last year, or an added 4,037 units).

BrandMasters is the name of a new experiential marketing agency created by Crossmark.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples is bringing its branded products to Japan through a wholesale distribution relationship with Jointex, a leading office products wholesaler and division of Plus Corp., a manufacturer of stationery and office furniture based in Tokyo.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic announced that its chief financial officer, Jim McGinty, has resigned, effective March 29. The company said that George Wehlitz, VP finance will serve as interim CFO.

McGinty had worked for Hot Topic Inc. for the past 12 years. His resignation is effective March 29.

Wehlitz became VP finance at Hot Topic in 2008. He previously served as CFO at motorcycle clothing and accessories company Cycle Gear Inc.

TRACY, Calif.   — Amazon will open a new fulfillment center in Tracy, Calif., creating hundreds of jobs in the process, the company announced.
 

Norwalk, Conn. -- BJ’s Wholesale Club has reached a multi-year agreement with LogicSource Inc. to provide enhanced print procurement and management services that will deliver significant cost savings to BJ’s. Terms were not disclosed.

LogicSource will provide onsite co-sourcing for all of BJ’s print procurement needs by collaborating with BJ’s to identify new potential supply chain partners and procurement efficiencies.