Content about Asia

PORTLAND, Ore. — Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Shawn Cox as SVP of retail, a newly created position that will report directly to president and CEO Tim Boyle.

In his new role, Cox, 49, will be responsible for leading the company’s brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce operations in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Cox has 24 years of experience developing, managing and improving profitability of branded retail networks with operations in the U.S., Europe, South America, Middle East and Asia.

Walmart and other retailers are facing renewed criticism over their global sourcing practices following another factory disaster in Bangladesh.

Reuters is reporting that a block of garment factories and shops collapsed in Savar, 20 miles outside Dhaka, on Wednesday, killing 251 people and injuring more than a thousand. According to the report, an unknown number of the more than 3,000 people who work at the factory remain trapped inside. For more information, go to:

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Revionics, aprovider of end-to-end merchandise optimization solutions, has appointed Jeff Edwards as SVP and managing director of Asia Pacific. Edwards has been successfully serving as Revionics’ SVP sales and account management for the company’s North American efforts. In his new role, Edwards will be responsible for strategic sales and business development efforts across the entire Asia Pacific region.

Wal-Mart Asia CEO Scott Price is among the feature speakers participating in this year’s World Retail Congress event scheduled for March 19-21 in Singapore.

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble will offer teachers a special holiday shopping event Saturday, Dec. 1.

Educators who shop at their local Barnes & Noble store or at www.bn.com and present a valid Barnes & Noble Educators Discount Card will receive special discounts on select merchandise.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has expanded international shipping for online orders on Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com to more than 60 countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, North America and South America. The company is providing this service to its customers in partnership with i-parcel, a leading international air express company that facilitates global shipping capabilities.

NEW YORK — J.Crew is expanding into Asia through a partnership with Hong Kong-based specialty store operator Lane Crawford.

Beginning in October, a curated selection of the J.Crew autumn/winter 2012 women's ready-to-wear and shoes, men's apparel and accessory collections will be available at select Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong and China. It is the first time J.Crew goods will be featured in a retail environment outside of North America.

QUINCY, Mass., and PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop customers in New England and the New York Metro area helped the retailer give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that this fall it is investing more than $50 million in education. The donation will fund programs such as Target School Library Makeovers, Take Charge of Education and a series of education grants and awards that will provide the resources needed to help students and teachers excel, the company reported.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that it plans to open its first stores in Vietnam and Guam through its franchise channel. In Vietnam, the first Gap stores will open this October followed by the first Banana Republic store in 2012. The first Gap store will open in Guam in 2012. The company first made its products available to consumers in this region last year through its international online shipping provider.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- A Wednesday report by Bloomberg said that Wal-Mart Stores has named Morten Knudsen as CFO for Asia, as the retailer recasts its leadership roles in the region amidst top-heavy turnover.

Knudsen, who was previously VP for corporate finance in Asia for Danone, takes the financial chief spot for Wal-Mart Asia effective Sept. 1.

Since May, Walmart has lost Japanese chief Toru Noda and three of its top executives in China, including the CFO and COO Roland Lawrence and Rob Cissell, respectively.