Management

Douglas J. Dayton, who served as the first president of Target department stores when his family's retailing company created the chain 61 years ago, has died. He was 88. He died on July 5 at his home in Wayzata, Minnesota, following a long battle with cancer, his wife, Wendy Dayton, said.

When it comes to a 219 percent salary increase, just do it. The New York Times released an infographic last week detailing the 2012 earnings of the 200 highest-paid CEOs in national public companies, which includes some well-known retail brands. Nike's chief boss got that 219 percent bump in pay, going from $11 million in 2011 to $35.2 million last year. The CEO at Gap banked $24.6 million last year, a 154 percent increase from 2011. 

Differentiation can be difficult in the consumer electronics (CE) and appliance industries because most vendors offer similar products at similar prices. In many cases, the delivery of exceptional customer service at every step of the transaction sets the best CE and appliance retailers apart from their competitors.

Men's Wearhouse founder George Zimmer fired back Thursday at claims that his "obstinate" desire to control the company led to his ouster last week. In an open letter, Zimmer said the company's directors unanimously nominated him for re-election to the board in May, but then "abruptly fired" him and postponed the annual stockholder meeting so they could nominate a new board "that excluded me."

Paula Deen lost another chunk of her empire on Wednesday. Wal-Mart announced that it has ended its relationship with the Southern celebrity chef, part of the continuing fallout in the wake of revelations that she used racial slurs in the past. The world's largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., currently carries a variety of products under her moniker, including food items, cookware and health and wellness products, at all of its 4,000 U.S. namesake stores. The retailer began selling her merchandise several years ago.

The rise of digital media has been tough on bookseller Barnes & Noble, but until now it appeared as though the company had a chance to turn things around. After Tuesday morning's

Luxury department store operator Neiman Marcus on Monday disclosed plans for a proposed public offering of up to $100 million. The retailer's plan, announced in a regulatory filing, comes some eight years after it was acquired for $5.1 billion by private equity firms TPG Capital and Warburg Pincus. In its filing, Neiman Marcus indicated a desire to expand its outlet center concept, Last Call, which currently operates 35 locations.

The board of directors of Men's Wearhouse today provided further comments regarding the termination of George Zimmer as executive chairman on June 19. The board stated: "Our actions were not taken to hurt George Zimmer.  Rather we were focused on what we believed to be in the best interests of Men's Wearhouse, as well as shareholders and employees. While Mr. Zimmer owns 3 ½ percent of the stock, it is our obligation to represent the interests of all shareholders."

The former president of a Systemax Inc. electronics sales unit was indicted on charges that he took bribes in exchange for steering more than $230 million in business to suppliers. Carl Fiorentino, 56, took more than $7 million from companies in Taiwan and California from January 2003 to April 2011, the government alleged in a seven-count indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Central Islip, New York.

Sales tax legislation strikes again! Amazon.com is terminating its contracts with affiliates in Minnesota effective June 30, 2013, thanks to a bill passed in May. The state is home to retail chains