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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Walmart board of directors is poised for an infusion of fresh, and young, talent when shareholders vote to approve a slate of directors that includes Google’s VP of local and maps.

Relocating a business and a family from Memphis, Tenn., to St. Petersburg, Fla., is a short distance in miles, but for The Sembler Co., which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the journey has been much longer.

“We have developed 350 projects, including 125 or 130 shopping centers,” said Mel Sembler, recently named chairman emeritus. “It’s been an interesting career.”

New York -- The Commerce Department said Monday that retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.8% in March as job gains and warmer weather encouraged more consumers to shop. The increase was below February's 1% increase but above January's pace.

Excluding both automotive and gasoline sales, retail sales rose 0.7%. Excluding the increase in auto sales, retail sales still rose by 0.8% in March.

Advance estimates put the total level of U.S. retail sales at a seasonally adjusted $411.1 billion for March.
 

While a Web presence is a prerequisite to doing business in the 21st century, the fact that 77% of consumers are now using tablet computers or smartphones to shop is forcing retailers to rethink their digital strategies, according to a survey from online price comparison engine PriceGrabber. Realizing this is not a decision to be taken lightly, retailers need to take steps to ensure that mobility can be an opportunity, and not a threat, to their business.

Given the escalating cost of fuel, conventional wisdom dictates the way to save money would be to schedule fewer miles. But this is not always the case, as witnessed by specialty retailer LifeWay Christian Resources, which found that more frequent deliveries translate to less cost across its retail enterprise.

JAKKS Pacific Inc., appointed Carmine Russo president of its international division with responsibility for growing international sales and overseeing marketing, advertising, promotions and distribution operations across all product divisions.
 

2014 marked progress in new development, particularly on the outlet front

After nearly a decade of stalled growth in the shopping center industry, 2014 finally saw progress being made on the new development front. While it’s true that much of the ground-up construction was of the outlet center ilk, the value sector wasn’t the only new-build push.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Walgreens and Car Charging Group on Monday announced the expansion of EV charging services to 13 Walgreens locations in Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.

"Walgreens dedication to the EV movement is unmatched by any other major retailer," Car Charging Group CEO Michael Farkas said. "Walgreens commitment to providing EV charging services to its customers nationwide is a testament to its support of environmental sustainability and of electric vehicle use."