Management

Abercrombie & Fitch Appoints New Brand Presidents
May 24, 2016 at 10:56 am

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Monday that it has named two new brand presidents. Stacia Andersen will lead the namesake Abercrombie & Fitch brand, along with Abercrombie Kids, responsible for all product and consumer-facing activities. She was recently the senior vice president of merchandising for Target Corp. Kristin Scott has been appointed brand president for Hollister. She…

Men’s Wearhouse Founder Eyes Deal for His Old Company
May 24, 2016 at 10:07 am

George Zimmer has a deal up his sleeve. It’s been three years since the entrepreneur — who famously promised “You’re gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it” — was ousted from Men’s Wearhouse, the company he founded in 1973. But he has been jonesing for his suit empire ever since, despite launching two startups that…

Kroger's Big $4 Billion Expansion Plan
May 23, 2016 at 10:34 am

Kroger has big expansion plans in 2016. How big? Enough to build both the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and the Great American Tower at Queen City Square — five times. Enough to rebuild the Brent Spence Bridge — twice. Enough to buy Convergys and Chemed combined — not just the downtown buildings, but both entire companies. Kroger's not just…

Overtime Rules Could Spell Big Trouble for Retailers. What About You?
May 19, 2016 at 10:51 am

As you've probably heard by now, President Obama announced the Department of Labor’s final rule updating the overtime regulations for middle-class workers yesterday. While the White House said the ruling is expected to boost wages for workers by $12 billion over the next 10 years, it's not going over well with many business associations, including the…

Ex-CEO Ron Johnson Says J.C. Penney Should Have Stuck With His Plan
May 17, 2016 at 9:27 am

Even though his strategy a few years ago to reinvent J.C. Penney sent the department store chain’s annual sales down $6 billion and caused a major cash crisis, former CEO Ron Johnson maintained on Monday that the retailer would have been better off sticking to his plan. Johnson, previously a star retailer at Apple and…

President Carly Rosenberg on the Evolution of Bluefly
May 17, 2016 at 9:16 am

There’s been a lot going on lately at Bluefly, the online seller of women's, men's and children's apparel and accessories, home furnishings and décor and beauty items from both high-end niche as well as up-and-coming brands. Earlier this spring, for example, Bluefly unveiled a new look, including a site redesign, new logo, new branding, and…

E-Commerce is a Money Loser, Minimum Wage Hikes Are a Bad Idea, and Other Musings by a Retail Star
May 16, 2016 at 10:04 am

E-commerce is a money-losing business and hiking up the minimum wage is “bull***.” So said retail’s “merchant prince” Allen Questrom, to a standing-room crowd of former colleagues and current acolytes where he was greeted like a retail rock star. The 50-year retail veteran and turnaround CEO of chains ranging from J.C. Penney and Macy’s (then Federated) to…

Trump Says Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has ‘Huge Antitrust Problem’
May 13, 2016 at 11:35 am

In his newest attack on Jeff Bezos, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says the Amazon.com chief executive and Washington Post owner has "a huge antitrust problem." Trump has taken on Bezos before, but on Fox News’ "Hannity" show on Thursday he accused Bezos of anticompetitive business practices. The attack on one of the technology industry's…

People Power
May 10, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Organizational needs have changed over the past five years as we get comfortable in the second decade of the 21st century. Human capital (i.e., people) are the only resource that will make a difference, regardless of the industry you work in. Hiring practices must change if one is to maximize the organization’s ability to hire the best. Here’s what’s in and what’s out for retailers looking to acquire and retain executive talent this year.

Gap Looks to Streamline Business as Sales Decline Continues
May 10, 2016 at 9:50 am

Gap Inc. said it would take steps to streamline its business, including evaluating its Banana Republic and Old Navy operations outside North America, as it posted comparable sales declines across its brands. The company also said it expects earnings for the first quarter to come in much weaker than analysts had expected — the company forecast…