News

Top eBay strategist named BrandShop CEO
E-commerce firm BrandShop announced that Reuben Hendell has been named chief executive officer of the company. Hendell will also serve on BrandShop's board of directors.

BrandShop provides digital commerce services for such brands as ArmorAll, Casio, Cuisinart, Hershey's, Nicorette, Ping, Samuel Adams and Waterpik.
TechBytes: Three Reasons Retailer Innovation Labs are a Good Idea
With the recent announcement that it will build a new digital innovation lab in Boston, CVS Health has joined the ranks of retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores and Target Corp, who have also launched similar facilities. Not every retailer is in the position to build its own proprietary innovation hot house, but there are many advantages for those with the resources to do so. Following are three key reasons that retail innovation labs are a good idea.

American Girl to give away 1,000 dolls a day

American Girl is pledging to give away 1,000 dolls a day, or $3 million in retail value, to children in hospitals across the country this holiday season.

Now through Dec. 18, American Girl will match any doll purchase made online, in-store or via phone with an 18-inch doll donation (up to 1,000 dolls each day) as part of its 2014 “Share the Wonder of the Holidays” giving campaign.
Longtime Container Store employees get married at headquarters—with co-founder officating

DALLAS - The Container Store has long been lauded as one of the places to work—and now it looks like it’s also a great place to get married. The chain on Saturday celebrated the wedding of two 25+ year tenured employees—Greg Arechar and Lety Covarrubias—from its distribution Center, at its headquarters. Co-founder and chairman emeritus Garrett Boone, an ordained officiant, led the ceremony.
Walmart board takes flight with ex-AA CEO

Walmart has appointed Tom Horton, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines, as the 16th member of its board of directors. Horton will also serve on the audit committee.
IBM: Online sales rise 19% pre-Thanksgiving weekend

Armonk, N.Y. - Online sales were up 18.7% the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov. 22-23) compared to the same two-day period in 2013. According to IBM Digital Benchmark analysis, mobile traffic accounted for 48.8% of all online traffic, an increase of 24.4% year-over-year.

In addition, mobile sales accounted for 26.6% of all online sales, an increase of 23.9% year-over-year.
Survey: Finance execs see strong Black Friday

New York - More than two-thirds (69%) of 276 finance industry executives expect 2014 Black Friday sales figures to grow at least 2% from their 2013 levels, with more than one-third (37%) expecting growth of 4% or more. Similarly, almost three-quarters of respondents to a survey from global brokerage firm Convergex (71%) say they expect total holiday season sales numbers to grow at least 2%, with 39% of respondents predicting a gain of 4% or more.
CVS Health Goes Platinum: Store uses 40% less energy, 50% less water

By Laura Klepacki
On the site of a former gas station in West Haven, Connecticut., CVS Health has unveiled its most environmentally progressive and energy efficient store so far.
For starters, the LEED Platinum-certified drug store boasts day lighting, a landscape design that doesn’t require irrigation, super-efficient HVAC units and LED-lit coolers that light up when approached. (Platinum is the highest distinction in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.)
Newell Rubbermaid hires P&G executive

Joe Arcuri, vice president and general manager of Procter & Gamble's North American beauty business, has been hired as president of home solutions for Newell Rubbermaid. He'll start the new job on Dec. 1.

"Joe brings an incredible set of global leadership experiences, a consistent pattern of excellent results and immense personal potential to the company as we continue the drive to make Newell Rubbermaid a larger, faster growing, more profitable, more global company," said Michael Polk, CEO of Newell Rubbermaid.
Ann Inc. names Coca-Cola exec to board

New York – Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, has named Katie J. Bayne to its board of directors. Bayne serves as senior VP, global sparkling brands at The Coca-Cola Company.