News

By Gary Ambrosino, TimeTrade Systems

Retailers are bending over backwards to meet the growing demands of today’s ever-connected consumer; however, most are still coming up short. The traditional rinse-and-repeat practices — slashing prices, offering free shipping and promoting exclusive products — aren’t winning over fickle consumers or helping gain a leg up on the competition.

Rite Aid has appointed David Abelman a SVP of brand development and innovation. He will report to Ken Martindale, Rite Aid’s president and chief operating officer.

Abelman will be responsible for overseeing the continued development of Rite Aid brand products as well as identifying and implementing new innovations to enhance and grow Rite Aid’s business.

Stamford, Conn. -- GE Capital Retail Bank announced a long-term extension of its agreement with American Eagle Outfitters to continue providing private-label credit card programs for online, mobile app, and store purchases made at any of the 856 American Eagle Outfitter and 115 Aerie locations across the U.S.

As part of the seven-year agreement, GE Capital’s Retail Finance business will continue to manage the American Eagle Outfitters credit card program, which began in 1996.

Third party logistics provider XPO Logistics completed its acquisition of Pacer International making it the largest provider of cross-border intermodal services with Mexico.

Barnes & Noble named Tulane University president Scott Cowen to its board a after a major shareholder disclosed it was dumping 90% of its stake in the company and relinquishing a seat on the board of directors.

Cowen serves as president of Tulane University in New Orleans and also holds the titles of Seymour S. Goodman Memorial Professor of Business in Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business and Professor of Economics in the School of Liberal Arts.

The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill has embarked on a nationwide tour that gives new meaning to the phrase, “mobile marketing.”

New York -- Xcel Brands announced that it has acquired fine jewelry and watch brand Judith Ripka for approximately $22.5 million.

Xcel currently owns Isaac Mizrahi New York and has an interest in the Liz Claiborne New York brand.

Best Buy, Staples, Home Depot, 3M and Colgate-Palmolive were among the many retailer and CPG companies to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy as recipients of the 2014 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award.

A total of 127 companies were received the Energy Star Partner of the Year distinction and were selected from a total of 16,000 Energy Start partners overall in the areas of manufacturing, retailing, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies and home builders.