News

Ed Burstell will join Hudson’s Bay Company’s leadership team as head of partnerships.    In this newly created position, Burstell will develop and lead partnerships to drive innovative and exclusive offerings across all of HBC’s banners globally — a move that will help differentiate the company across the marketplace. Burstell, who comes aboard on Dec. 5, will report to the company’s CEO Jerry Storch.  

Raley’s, the Northern Californian grocery chain, got one step closer to its vision to build a neighborhood “hub” in Sacramento.   According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, the city’s Planning and Design Commission voted 12-to-1 to approve the chain’s plans for “The Park,” a 108,000-sq.-ft. open-air center ringed by a metal canopy and featuring large store windows and shrub-filled “green screens.”  

Target’s voluntary recall is helping keep Halloween safe for young children.   The mass merchandiser recalled 127,000 Halloween-themed LED gel window “clings” because of the choking hazard they pose to children. The decals, an easy and affordable way to decorate windows and glass doors, light up when a dedicated button is pressed.  

Alibaba’s co-founder has a solution to ward off harmful cyber-attacks across China.   The online platform’s co-founder Jack Ma proposed that the nation’s top security bureau use big data to prevent crime — an announcement that endorses China’s budding efforts to build an unparalleled online surveillance system, according to Bloomberg.  

GNC Holdings reported a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share.   The dividend will be paid on Dec. 30.   The specialty wellness retailer operates more than 9,000 locations in approximately 50 countries.  

My family – and many other consumers – have already started planning for the holidays. With Deloitte projecting a 4% increase in holiday sales over last year's shopping season, it’s critical that you have the workforce in place to address this opportunity.  

A spat with a toy vendor could make for a difficult holiday shopping season for Sears Holdings.   Due to claims of financial difficulties, reports claim that toy manufacturer Jakks Pacific has halted sales of its Star Wars and Disney Princess toys, among other merchandise, to “a major U.S. customer," which was presumed by some to be Kmart, according to CNBC.  

The venue where the Beatles performed their first concert in the United States now houses REI’s newest flagship location.  

Several companies have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the debt-laden American Apparel.   Brand licensors Authentic Brands Group and Iconix Brand Group are among the companies eying the chain, Reuters reported.   

A German brand known for its high-quality headphones had dropped anchor in the United States.      Sennheiser has opened a pop-up, in the SoHo section of downtown Manhattan, that is designed to let visitors try out its products firsthand.      The brand is also set to open a permanent retail space, at the Westfield World Trade Center in Manhattan, in late October. It will serve as a showroom and not sell product (product is sold at the pop-up, however).