News

PHILADELPHIA — Pep Boys has put an end to the proposed merger between itself and investment firm The Gores Group.

The potential merger was first announced on Jan. 30, and The Gores Group has agreed to pay Pep Boys a fee of $50 million and to reimburse Pep Boys for certain merger-related expenses. The special meeting of Pep Boys’ shareholders, which was scheduled to be held on May 30, has been canceled.

Dallas -- Loyalty and marketing solution-provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the turnkey, marketing-driven private label credit card program for Gardner-White Furniture.

Gardner-White is a regional retailer of home furnishings, electronics, mattresses and accessories in the metro Detroit area.

Washington, D.C. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the announcement that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has reached an agreement with Amazon.com requiring the online retailer to begin collecting state sales tax on purchases made in New Jersey by July 1, 2013.

"Today's announcement ends the practice of giving out-of-state retailers like Amazon.com an unfair advantage over those retailers who are an integral part of communities across New Jersey," said RILA president Sandy Kennedy

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has launched a new in-store fundraising campaign named Advancing Medical Research, to support medical research and help improve the quality of life for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cystic fibrosis (CF).  Funds raised through the campaign will benefit the ALS Therapy Alliance (ATA), a leading organization dedicated to advancing ALS research, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis.

CINCINNATI — Kroger has launched a new campaign to generate $4 million in cash and good donations to assist 80 local food banks in the communities it serves.

Mahwah, N.J. -- Bombay & Co. Inc. has selected TD Retail Card Services, a unit of TD Bank, to create and administer its private label credit card.

Under the agreement, TD will direct all facets of the program for the Toronto-based company’s 50 stores located in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. The new Bombay & Co. credit card will offer consumers a full menu of deferred interest and equal pay programs.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus is rebranding its contemporary departments within each of the 42 Neiman Marcus stores as Cusp shop-in-shops. 

Neiman Marcus first launched the Cusp brand in 2006 with two freestanding stores that offered customers a contemporary assortment including apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories in a boutique environment. The brand has grown over time and now includes a total of six Cusp stores and Cusp.com.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's has named Steven Fitzpatrick to its board of directors. Fitzpatrick will be presented as one of the director nominees at the company's 2012 annual meeting to be held later this summer.