Management

Bebe Stores Inc. is planning to shut down its stores and become an online-only brand, according to sources close to the situation. The company is trying to close the locations without filing for bankruptcy, however, Chapter 11 may be required if enough landlords aren't willing to negotiate. Bebe has 170 stores in its fleet, including…

As a part of our continuing coverage of Total Retail’s Salary Benchmark Report, this week we take a look at how your job title may affect the financial benefits that you receive. The first annual Salary Benchmark Report was produced after an online survey was sent to the Total Retail audience over a two-week time period.…

Target has poached Jeff Burt, the head of Kroger’s Fred Meyer division, to take over its grocery business. Target’s grocery business has been struggling amid price competition and Wal-Mart and Amazon.com's push into the category. Target is hoping Burt’s experience at Fred Meyer will help jumpstart its grocery business. Burt spent 30 years at Kroger,…

HHGregg Inc. disclosed late Thursday that its proposed purchase by an anonymous buyer has fallen through and that it now is considering the sale of some or all the business to other possible suitors. The struggling company, which filed for Chapter 11 reorganization March 6, said at that time that it had reached an agreement to sell the business…

Honest Company has appointed Nick Vlahos, chief operating officer at Clorox, as CEO of the consumer products company co-founded by Jessica Alba. Vlahos, who has worked at Clorox for 22 years, also joins Honest Company's board of directors and will help steer the baby and personal care products company as it aims to expand distribution…

Guess announced during its fourth quarter earnings call this week that it will be closing 60 underperforming stores this fiscal year. In the past two years, the retailer — which operates about 400 U.S. locations — has closed 62 U.S. stores, including 10 this past quarter. Guess reported fourth quarter total net revenue increases of 3.2…

Aside from working an unsustainable 70-hour work week and hiring expensive contractors, there are few additional — somewhat more complex — things managers can do to get the work done, run an efficient department and foster a sane work environment for all.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) welcomed the House Budget Committee’s 19-17 approval of Obamacare repeal-and-replace legislation, which sets the stage for a vote by the full House as soon as next week. It would effectively repeal the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate by reducing the penalty for noncompliance to zero; repeals the so-called Cadillac tax on…

Over the last couple of months, we’ve been reporting on insights gleaned from our first ever Salary Benchmark Report. The report features salary data from Total Retail’s audience of retail executives representing organizations of all sizes and product verticals. This week, we feature a chart that shows how education levels impact financial benefits retail professionals…

Last week, Wal-Mart gave a share of more than $157 million to more than 850,000 employees in the U.S. These cash bonuses were based on their stores’ performance in the fourth quarter. The bonuses were awarded on the heels of Wal-Mart U.S. recording its strongest comp sales performance of the year in the fourth quarter…