News

New York -- Star Avenue Capital announced that it has acquired a minority ownership position in It’Sugar, Deerfield Beach, Fla., a growing specialty candy and gift chain. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Star Avenue is partnering with It’Sugar CEO and founder Jeff Rubin and existing investor Prentice Consumer Partners to provide the resources and strategic guidance to support the brand’s rapid expansion. The company currently has over 50 retail locations across 13 states and four international markets.

IRVINE, Calif. — Greeting card manufacturer Hallmark has extended its contract with iPass, a high-speed wide area networking platform and Wi-Fi service provider.

Hallmark has used iPass to provide managed network services to more than 2,100 corporate and independent retail locations for the last seven years. The new five-year contract will enhance Hallmark’s networking capabilities, allowing it to add new managed services that will allow the card manufacturer to further its expansion into the digital market.  

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — New York Mets baseball executive Paul DePodesta is the newest member of the Sears Holdings board.

Although his qualifications are somewhat unconventional, DePodesta was elected to the board because his experience as VP of player development and amateur scouting for the Mets is believe to help Sears Holdings in the area of personnel development.

Purchase, N.Y. -- A SpendingPulse report released Wednesday by MasterCard Advisors in partnership with Wells Fargo found that spending at small retailers in November picked up a percentage point since October, showing a 5.2% year over year improvement.

This was enough to put its growth rate from October to November at 0.7%, more than the growth rate of total U.S. retail sales.

Retailers are enjoying solid sales of male grooming aids this holiday season, according to NPD.

Men’s grooming products are perennially popular holiday items because they provide a convenient gift-giving solution, but this trend is even more evident this year based on NPD’s findings.

Men’s grooming appliances include men’s electric shavers, facial trimmers, home hair clippers, pen trimmers, body groomers and nose/ear trimmers.

SAN FRANCISCO — Office Depot, FedEx Office and Go Daddy are anxious to tap into the small office and home office businesses market, which has been enjoying rapid growth and change. To that end, the three have formed a partnership with Planet Soho, a provider of user-friendly online management tools and services for the SOHO market.

NORWALK, Conn. — LogicSource, a sourcing solutions firm owned by Bain Capital, has appointed Sam Vail to the newly created GM spot for its OneMarket technology division. Vail will be responsible for driving OneMarket’s “Concept-to-Customer” solutions strategy, product marketing and business development.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. said Wednesday that women’s apparel and accessories retailer Dots has signed an agreement for private-label credit card services.

"The benefits of the new dots card are multifaceted,” said Lisa Rhodes, CEO, Dots. “In addition to providing a finance option and exclusive offers, it's an opportunity for us to bond with our shoppers as they become advocates of our brand.”