Elizabeth Meltzer, who joins from The Gap, will oversee the bed, bath and home décor categories for the Union-based company.

With New Jersey in the midst of a second wave of COVID-19, now might seem like an odd time to loosen restrictions on businesses. But Christine Modica, who heads the New Jersey Salon and Spa Alliance, said the rules put in place for hair salons and other so-called “personal care businesses” have been suffocating at times.

Just over half of all shoppers are nervous about shopping for holiday gifts in stores due to COVID-19, and 1 in 3 say their financial situation is worse year over year, according to Deloitte’s 2020 Holiday Survey: Reimagining Traditions. While these findings don’t mean that consumers are shirking Black Friday and Small Business Saturday entirely this year, 2020 holiday retailing certainly will look different.

The retail store company has appointed Mary-Farrell Tarbox and Ann-Marie Clendenin as regional vice presidents for the central and east regions respectively, effective Oct. 26.

The 188,000-square-foot facility will create more than 125 full- and part-time associate jobs.

For major retailers getting into the pre-owned market – like Levi's, Gap and Walmart – retail analyst and sales consultant John Livesay referenced the switch from movie rentals to streaming: “Nobody takes their position for granted anymore. I’m sure the people at Blockbuster were very busy until the whole thing fell apart, whereas the people at Netflix were like ‘what’s the brand, what can we be doing?’”

“Our company has a history of managing small, differentiated chains that offer an elevated experience, like Andronicos and Haggens in the western U.S.," said Mid-Atlantic Division President Jim Perkins in a press release. "When we leverage their team’s expertise and continue to deliver what their customers want, these stores can thrive.”

New York-based fashion business IHL Group will acquire the girls' clothing brand for an undisclosed amount of money as the “stalking horse bidder" in an auction conducted by the Mahwah retailer.

The agreements, valued at approximately $250 million, are separate from one another, and in line with the Union-based retailer's ongoing portfolio optimization.

According to the company, consumer research shows 66% of shoppers plan to increase online purchases during the holidays this year, driving its own demand to bring on fulfillment center workers to support the uptick in e-commerce.

In what ordinarily would seem like the 11th hour, due to COVID-19, bipartisan advocacy groups on either side of the issue are navigating new waters: How can they get through to voters, who they can’t interact with in person, to answer one way or another Public Question No. 1: “Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’?”

The company said the Carneys Point facility will open in time for the 2021 holiday season and create hundreds of jobs.