Management

With the 2012 election season around the corner, the National Retail Federation launched a first-of-its-kind major year-long advocacy campaign to advance jobs, innovation and consumer value on behalf of America's retail industry.

Retailers are likely to hire the same or possibly fewer seasonal workers for the year-end holidays as they hired in 2010, outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas said.

Best Buy announced it will hire 200 information technology specialists over the next year, growing its team from 100 to 300, in a move to take control of its IT department. According to published reports, the hires are part of a strategic effort to appeal to increasingly digital customers.

Upon publicly lambasting 24-year-old college student Nancy Upton for mocking its online contest aimed at plus-size models and then, infuriatingly, winning it, the company has made an about-face and offered to fly Upton to its Los Angeles headquarters to tour its factories, meet its creative team and continue the dialogue about the perception of plus-sized women in the media.

Jeff Schumacher, formerly Sports Authority's chief marketing officer, "has resigned from The Sports Authority," the company said in a brief statement. "After leading several important and successful initiatives for the company, including the exciting new partnership with the Denver Broncos, Jeff plans to pursue new interests in his career," said the statement. "We thank him for his contributions to the company and wish him the best in the future."

Patagonia, a designer and distributor of technical outdoor clothing, has announced the appointment of Dmitri Siegel as the company's new vice president of global e-commerce. As vice president of e-commerce, Siegel will provide strategic vision, leadership and operational expertise in directing Patagonia's e-commerce strategies both domestically and abroad, the company reported.

The Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani SpA has committed to ban the dangerous practice of sandblasting jeans, a technique used to give jeans a used look which is highly dangerous to workers. The news comes after a series of campaigns on Change.org by by the Clean Clothes Campaign which is an alliance of organizations in 15 European countries that is dedicated to improving working conditions and supporting the empowerment of workers in the global garment and sportswear industries.

American Apparel has responded to plus-size contest winner/protester Nancy Upton. The company's Creative Director Iris Alonzo sent Upton and a number of news outlets a long letter explaining the contest's motives and letting her know that she didn't actually win (something Upton says she wasn't really trying to do anyway, though she was voted into first place).

Frederick's of Hollywood announced that Don Jones has joined the company as president and chief operating officer. Jones comes to Frederick's with more than 35 years of experience in the fashion and consumer product retail industry. Throughout his career, he has held executive and managerial positions with leading retail organizations, including Gap Inc., Target Corporation, IKEA, Filene's and Macy's.

Saks Fifth Avenue has named Denise Incandela to the newly created role of chief marketing officer. Incandela, who joined Saks Fifth Avenue in 1999, will continue as president of Saks Direct.