
Management

Mattel said it fired its ex-CEO, contradicting its press release in January in which it said he was resigning.
It's a big market opportunity with growing sales potential, but retailers can't seem to figure it out. The plus-size apparel market generated $17.5 billion in sales between May 2013 and April 2014, up 5 percent from the year prior, according to market research firm The NPD Group. But that figure likely under-represents the true opportunity of the demographic given that the average American woman is a size 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ikea, almost as well known for its Swedish meatballs as its assemble-it-yourself furniture, is about to give its hungry but socially conscious shoppers a vegetarian option: veggie balls. More specifically, vegan veggie balls made with no animal products whatsoever. In a bid to appeal to millennials and those eager for more sustainable food options, the chain on Wednesday said it will add veggie balls to its menu at most U.S. restaurants beginning Thursday. A plate of 10 will sell for $4.49. Also, chicken balls will be sold at its restaurants beginning April 27.
Trayon Christian, 20, says he was hassled at Barneys because of his skin color. But the high-end clothing store says it did nothing wrong in calling the cops. Barneys did nothing wrong by allegedly calling the cops on a customer who claims he was just "shopping while black," new court papers argue. The high-end men's clothing store says in documents filed in Manhattan Federal Court that a shopper's suit should be dismissed because his civil rights weren't violated when he was detained by police after buying a $349 belt in 2013.
Jessica Simpson's fashion line hauls in about $1 billion in annual sales, an aberration in a retail landscape littered with dead celebrity brands. David Hasselhoff's Malibu Dave, Mandy Moore's Mblem, Heidi Montag's Heidiwood … the list of defunct fashion labels of the famous is endless. Yet Simpson's line has not only survived, it's grown over the past decade into a true lifestyle empire. How did she accomplish such a feat? According to the pop star, Simpson just knows what women want.
Staples is trying to increase its appeal to women by embarking on a new initiative with the city of Boston. The retailer has pledged to work with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh to make Boston the best city in the country for working women by signing on to "100 percent Talent: The Boston Women's Compact," an effort to end the gender-based wage gap and advance women in the workforce. "Staples values all of its female associates and understands the important role gender equality plays in fostering an inclusive workplace," said Regis Mulot, Staples’ executive vice president of human resources.
A day after RadioShack's narrow escape from liquidation in bankruptcy court, Soohyung Kim, the financier who led the contentious rescue, retreated to a back office to make a conference call with the chain's almost 2,700 workers, vendors and landlords. For many of those listening, it was their first direct real introduction to the chief architect of the retailer's unlikely reincarnation. "It's time for a new day," Mr. Kim said, his voice tense yet steady. "We're here today because we know this can work."
The president of Saks Fifth Avenue, Marigay McKee, stepped down Thursday after 15 months at the department store chain's helm. She was replaced by Marc Metrick, an executive at Saks’ parent company, Hudson's Bay. Ms. McKee joined Saks in 2014 after revitalizing the luxury London retailer Harrods. She pushed to modernize Saks, which had struggled with underperforming stores after overexpanding in the last decade. McKee said she would spend $1.25 billion over two years to refurbish stores and try to attract younger customers by adding more contemporary fashions and international labels.
Greg Foran, in his eighth month as the new president of the U.S. division of Wal-Mart, recently met with analysts to discuss his outlook for the company. The meeting, attended by more than 100 senior analysts, was a disappointment since it was mostly just a review of basic merchandising and procedures. There were few hard facts, and I think that Mr. Foran is in awe at running 4,500 stores — a fact he repeated several times. He didn't project the impression of a strong, confident manager. His theme was that he's proceeding slowly and cautiously to make changes.
Sears Holdings Corp. will raise more than $2.5 billion by siphoning off 254 stores into a real estate investment trust, the struggling retailer said on Wednesday. The newly formed REIT, Seritage Growth Properties, will buy and lease back the Sears and Kmart stores. The company's decision to move forward with a REIT was anticipated, and represents another urgent effort to raise cash. The department store chain hasn't turned a profit for several years. It will fund the purchase, in part, with the money raised from shareholders through a rights offering.