News

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- Coldwater Creek has deployed Oracle Retail’s suite of integrated merchandise planning and optimization solutions as part of a strategic initiative to increase full-price selling and improve the productivity and profitability of store, online and catalog channels. The women’s apparel retailer is using the new planning solutions to reduce aged inventory and ensure that popular items are consistently in stock.

Many socioeconomic pundits have bemoaned the trend in modern education and childrearing toward creating an artificially level playing field where everyone gets a participant ribbon for everything they do, regardless of how much effort they put in or how good (or bad) the results are.

In its PizzaRev case study series, CSA Online offers an insider’s look at the conception, initial rollout and growth of the southern Calif.-based fast-casual concept PizzaRev. Likened to “the Chipotle of pizza,” this innovative chain lets customers choose from an artisanal array of toppings to craft their own pizzas very quickly in a high-end stone hearth oven. A test kitchen in Northridge, Calif. was launched in April 2012 and two additional locations quickly followed.

New York -- Men’s apparel and accessories chain Jos. A. Bank Clothiers has confirmed that it is on the hunt for acquisitions to drive growth. The company has retained Financo LLC to assist it in its search.

“As part of its evaluation of strategic opportunities, the company has been and will continue to selectively seek potential acquisitions that are strategically sound and accretive in the long run,” Jos. A. Bank said in a statement. “No timetable has been set for any acquisition.”

By Mohammad Hashemi, [email protected]

New York -- The Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,100 people highlights the serious risks that labor conditions can pose not only to workers, but also to organizations’ reputations, supply chains, and bottom lines, according to a report by global insurance broking and risk management firm Marsh.

ROANOKE, Va. — Advance Auto Parts has promoted Donna Justiss to the position of SVP and chief information officer. Justiss will report to EVP and CFO Mike Norona, and will continue to be based in Roanoke, Va.

She will be responsible for the strategic leadership of all aspects of Advance’s Information Technology area, including application development and support, infrastructure and information security. 

NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation have named actress Jennifer Aniston as the EIF ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2013 Key to the Cure campaign. 

In the 14 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping weekend, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised more than $33 million for cancer research. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has appointed Ken Martindale as president and COO. Martindale is currently SVP and COO, as well as president of the Rite Aid Foundation. John Standley will continue as chairman and CEO.

Ulta Beauty announced that Mary Dillon will be the company's new CEO. She begins her new role July 1, at which time interim CEO Dennis Eck will step down.

Eck has been interim CEO since February, when Chuck Rubin stepped down as president, CEO and director to become CEO at arts and crafts specialty retailer Michaels.