News

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has launched the Staples App Center, an online marketplace for cloud-based business applications.

The App Center will allow small businesses to purchase and manage their apps all in one place. The center boasts a selection of business apps, an administrative console and one consolidated bill.

RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson is marking its 90th anniversary of donating to the local United Way.

For nearly a century, the family-owned company known for brands such as Glade, Pledge and Scrubbing Bubbles has donated more than $50 million in cumulative contributions to the local nonprofit organization.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon isn’t running for elected office, but he sure sounded like a politician earlier this week as he laid out a three-tiered plan the retail industry can implement to restore U.S. economic growth.

CANTON, Mass. — Global fitness brand Reebok has entered into a multi-year partnership with Spartan Race that will see Reebok as the title sponsor of the global race series.

Reebok’s titular sponsorship begins with the first race of the season at Vail Lake Resort in Temecula, Calif., on January 26 and 27.

NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor is teaming up with Lifetime's Project Runway for the show’s eleventh season, making it the show’s exclusive retail sponsor.

ARMONK, N.Y. and AKRON — Signet Jewelers teamed up with IBM to give its national U.S. store chains, Kay Jewelers and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, a digital makeover.

The digital marketing redesign has transformed the multichannel experience for Kay and Jared customers, according to Signet, and resulted in consistent sales growth, including a year-over-year increase of 49% in online sales, as reported in the company's recently announced holiday sales for fiscal 2013.

By Bruce Jones

The 2012 holiday shopping season featured stores opening earlier on Thanksgiving, extended hours shopping marathons, and, according to the National Retail Federation, an additional 585,000 to 625,000 seasonal retail workers.

The first indication that something big was brewing with Walmart on the domestic sourcing front came last week.

That’s when Walmart announced internally at that SVP of home, Michelle Gloeckler, would assume additional responsibilities for a new U.S. sourcing and manufacturing initiative. Reporting to Gloeckler is Greg Hall who was named vp of U.S. sourcing and manufacturing after previously serving as vp of marketing for Walmart.com.

JACKSON, Miss. — Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s largest egg producer, has elevated two operations executives. Kevin Lastowski and Chris Myers have both been promoted to VP of operations.

DENVER — Things may not be working out for Tim Tebow as a Jets quarterback, but he’s got something to fall back on. His foundation has entered into a third-year, multifaceted agreement with national furniture retailer Furniture Row Companies.