Personnel

When Sports Authority filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy recently, some of the headlines blamed the retailer's woes on the shift to online shopping. While that's a convenient excuse — and no doubt has some validity — retailers both local and national have shown that online shopping isn't necessarily the be-all, end-all. Consider Big Lots.

Avon Products Inc., which split off its North American operations earlier this month, plans to eliminate about 2,500 jobs and shift its headquarters to the U.K. in a cost-cutting move. The shake-up will generate one-time expenses of about $60 million in the first quarter from severance and other costs, the New York-based cosmetics company said in…

Nordstrom has laid off more than a hundred staffers in its technology operations as the company steps off the investment pedal in the midst of a surprisingly tough retail environment. A person familiar with the company said 120 employees were laid off last week from the company’s tech department. The move comes in the wake of…

AutoZone Inc. said it will hire 10,000 more retail workers to staff stores nationwide during the height of its selling season. The Memphis-based auto parts retailer, which employs about 47,000 workers, released a statement Tuesday saying the additional full- and part-time staff will ensure customer service remains strong. The statement says markets most in need of additional…

Costco Wholesale Corp. will lift its minimum wage for the first time in nine years, by a $1.50 an hour, as the labor market tightens and competitors start giving workers a raise. The second-largest U.S. retailer will start paying at least $13-to-$13.50 an hour, up from $11.50-to-$12 an hour, the company said Thursday in a…

Wal-Mart cut more than 100 jobs at its Bentonville, Arkansas headquarters this week, in a new round of layoffs by the retailer. The latest cuts, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, follow the layoff of 450 workers at its home office in October. These cuts are separate from any occurring at the 100 or so…

Following another grim earnings report, Sears Holdings laid off 250 corporate employees at 10 locations around the country. Some 200 cut jobs were at the retailer's Hoffman Estates, Ill. headquarters, across "a variety" of business units, the company confirmed. An internal memo from Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert, reviewed by Crain's, confirmed the cuts to…

Kit and Ace, the retail startup launched by lululemon athletica Inc founder Chip Wilson’s family, has laid off roughly 10 percent of staff at its Vancouver headquarters, as the closely held company slows its rapid pace of expansion. The layoffs, which impact about 35 people, come as the luxury casual wear-maker shifts focus from opening dozens…

Bebe stores, inc. announced that Manny Mashouf has rejoined its management team as chief executive officer and that Walter Parks has rejoined as president, chief operating officer and interim-chief financial officer. Former CEO and board member Jim Wiggett and former CFO Liyuan Woo are no longer with the company. Bebe further announced that it has…

Online fashion retailer Nasty Gal has laid off 10 percent of its staff, as the purveyor of edgy women’s clothing cuts costs amid an uncertain financing and retail environment. CEO Sheree Waterson told the company in an email that the cuts were necessary as the “market in which we operate is changing, both in retail broadly…