Management

Lowe's is offering buyouts to corporate staff as the retailer slows store openings, cuts costs and focuses on the digital aspects of its business. The buyout offer, known as a "voluntary separation program," applies to corporate staff members at the company's offices in Mooresville and Wilkesboro, N.C.

Turnaround CEO Neil Fiske, who took over Bellevue-based Eddie Bauer in 2007 and led it through a bankruptcy court auction in 2009, will soon leave the top post, according to a company statement. No reason was given for his departure.

Liz Claiborne Inc. announced the appointment of David Bassuk as co-president and chief operating officer of Juicy Couture, effective Feb. 27. In this role, Bassuk will oversee finance, operations, planning and allocation, international, e-commerce, wholesale sales, and operations and facilities while partnering with co-president and chief creative officer LeAnn Nealz on the management and overall leadership of the Juicy Couture brand. Both Bassuk and Nealz will report to William L. McComb, CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc.

The Container Store, the storage and organization products retailer, today honors its 5,000 employees across the country by celebrating its third annual "National We Love Our Employees Day." Company executives unveiled a 58,800 square foot "love note" on the roof of its company headquarters that it's submitting for review to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Wal-Mart, Office Depot and Macy’s were the only three retailers listed among the National Association for Female Executives’ (NAFE) list of the Top 50 Companies for Executive Women. According to NAFE, women represent 53 percent of the employees at these companies, on average. Women make up 23 percent of the board of directors at the NAFE Top 50 vs. 16 percent of the boards of companies in the Fortune 500. In addition, women comprise 22 percent of the executive level at companies in the NAFE Top 50 vs. 14 percent across Fortune 500 companies.

J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson is dealing with his first media controversy. Johnson, flashing an incredibly charming smile, appeared on CBS to defend spokesperson Ellen DeGeneres. He said that DeGeneres was the perfect pick to represent the new direction of the company because of her positive, outgoing attitude.

In a surprising move for the conventional Fox News pundit, Bill O'Reilly came to the rescue of Ellen DeGeneres, who is currently facing heat from conservative groups over her recent partnership with J.C. Penney.

Ralph Lauren's president said the company and J.C. Penney have decided to drop the exclusive American Living line of home, apparel and accessories goods, which, when it launched at J.C. Penney in 2008, marked the retailer's single largest brand introduction in history.

Since the announcement that Ellen DeGeneres would be a new spokesperson for J.C. Penney, there's been an outpouring of support. There have also been a handful of critics. Ellen addressed them head-on in her monologue.

A concerned mother is taking to Facebook to rally against Urban Outfitters after being shocked by the hipster retailer's selection of raunchy, sex-themed books in a Valentine's Day display during a visit to its Boston location with her 13-year-old daughter last week.