News

Stratham, N.H. -- Timberland detailed its plan to grow revenues by $1.4 billion during the next five years at an investor meeting at the company’s headquarters in Stratham, New Hampshire. Timberland’s management said it expects total revenues to reach $3.1 billion by the end of 2019, representing growth of 13% per year. (Timberland is a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation.

Every holiday season is filled with uncertainty, and this year is no different, except when it comes to e-commerce, where the only unknown is the size of the sales increase.

Cambridge, Mass. -- Highland Consumer Partners, a growth-stage venture capital firm focused on the consumer sector, announced that retail executive Marty Hanaka joined the firm in August of this year as an operating partner.

Hanaka most recently was the interim CEO of Guitar Center, from January 2013 to April 2013.  

Previously, he served as the chairman of Golfsmith International Holdings, from April 2007 to November 2012, and was CEO from June 2008 to November 2012.   

New York -- Sears Holdings Corp. said in regulatory filing that it would borrow $400 million from the hedge fund of its CEO, Edward Lampert, who is also the company’s largest shareholder.  

Sears received the first $200 million of the loan from Lampert's ESL Investments on Monday, and expects to receive the remaining amount on Sept. 30.

The company said it would use the money for “general corporate purposes.

By Howard W. Herndon, BlackLine Payments Advisors

While much of the attention at this week’s Apple press conference was on the iPhone 6 and the company’s new smartwatch, we believe — along with many industry analysts — that the most important news of the splashy event was Apple Pay, the company’s new mobile payments system.

Target has entered the “top toy” fray with a list filled with familiar brands, exclusive offering and boutique products designed to inspire creative play and reinforce Target’s differentiation.

Austin, Texas -- Revionics announced that Niemann Foods, a chain of grocery, pet food, hardware, pharmacies and gas stations in the Midwest, has selected Revionics as its price optimization provider.

Revionics will be providing Niemann Foods with their SaaS-based price optimization solution, which includes robust price management, science-based optimization, forecasting, simulation and effectiveness measurement.

As Apple copes with record orders of its iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch, Amazon — which entered the smartphone ring back in June — is determined to stay in the competition by offering its Fire for 99 cents with a two-year contract.

Customers can purchase Fire on www.amazon.com, www.att.com and in AT&T stores nationwide.