Content about Year of birth missing

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN has partnered with HGTV to launch HGTV Home Outdoor Living, only at HSN. Launching across HSN and HGTV's multiple platforms on March 19, HGTV Home Outdoor Living will redefine the outdoor living retail landscape with top HGTV experts appearing on HSN, including Designer John Gidding, star of Curb Appeal.  The HGTV experts will offer advice and showcase an assortment of high-quality, HGTV-curated, outdoor products, including exclusive HGTV Home branded items. 

Car Charging Group, an electric vehicle charging company, has named William Fields, former president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores to its board of directors.  

During his 25-year career with Wal-Mart, Fields was responsible for over 2,000 stores and 600,000 employees, and directed strategic planning in operations, merchandising, marketing, and logistics.

Weaker than expected December sales at Target will cause fourth quarter profits to come in at the low end of an earlier forecast, the company said.

Sales at Target for the five week period ended December 31, increased 0.8% to $10.2 billion while same store sales were essentially flat, below the company’s guidance which called for an increase in the low single digits. The performance was driven by a low single digit decrease in comparable store transactions, offset by an increase in average transaction size.

A worse than expected 1% decline in November same store sales indicates the holiday season is off to a slow start at Target.

The 1% decline was substantially worse than the low single digit increase the company forecast at the start of the month when it reported a 2.4% increase for October that was toward the low end of guidance. The November weakness suggest traffic trends may be deteriorating at Target as the company said blamed the decline on a decrease in comparable store transactions following that metric’s flat performance in October.

Target turned 50 this year, and chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel weighed in on the expect more, pay less (EMPL) value proposition, his 32-year career and miscellaneous other topics in a Q&A interview with the company’s online magazine known as “A Bullseye View.” To read a transcript of his comments click here.

HOUSTON — Stage Stores announced Michael Glazer has been appointed to the position of president and CEO on an interim basis. Glazer replaces the company’s former president and CEO, Andy Hall, who the company announced has resigned from both the company and its board of directors to pursue other interests.

SEATTLE — A Tuesday report by the Seattle Times said that Eddie Bauer chief Neil Fiske, who joined the retailer in 2007 and led it through bankruptcy, will leave his post effective March 2.

The company has not given a reason for Fiske’s sudden departure. David Chamberlain, executive chairman, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is named. Fiske will remain with the company as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Wal-Mart Stores has named a replacement for Eduardo Castro-Wright, who announced his pending retirement in September. The company announced that Neil Ashe is the new president and CEO of the company's global e-commerce business, effective Jan. 16. Castro-Wright will assist in the transition.

Ashe is replacing Eduardo Castro-Wright who announced his pending retirement in September and will assist in the transition.

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Namath he’s not. Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel assured investors last month that December comps would exceed November’s 1.8% increase, but then Thursday morning reported a disappointing 1.6% increase and a reduced profit forecast.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that Eddie Matney, Reinaldo Alfonso and Michael Vlasich have joined the company's Simply Delicious Chef Brigade, a team of all-star restaurant chefs who creatively use one ingredient in multiple dishes as inspiration for everyday cooking.

The retirement of veteran merchant John Westling was announced internally at Walmart last Friday, and in typical fashion his departure has created new opportunities for other executives as responsibilities are reallocated.

BANGALORE, India — According to multiple reports on Monday, India’s largest retailer has hired two former executives of Wal-Mart Stores’ China operations as its two top executives.

Reliance Industries Ltd., which operates 1,000 retail stores across India selling everything from produce to electronics, has named Rob Cissell as CEO of Reliance Retail Ltd. and has named Shawn Gray as COO.