Retail Briefs

Steve Ryman, vice president, home brands for Sears, has left the company “to pursue other interests,” according to a company spokesperson.

Ryman joined Sears in June 2004 as vice president, general merchandise manager, home fashions. In April 2005, he was named vice president, home brands.

Ikea plans to open a store and restaurant in Draper, Utah at the northwest corner of I-15 and Bangerter Highway.

The approximately 310,000-square foot store will be constructed on 22.5 acres and is expected to open in spring 2007. The unit will be the retailer's first store in the Mountain West.

The store will feature three model homes with 50 room settings, employing approximately 350 coworkers when fully built.

Ikea has launched a store-branded credit card, issued by GE Consumer Finance.

Consumers can apply for the cards by phone or in-store at self-service kiosks placed throughout each store. The bilingual kiosks, like the toll-free number, can handle Spanish and English languages.

“We've listened to our customers, and they want a credit card with a flexible financing program,” said Matti Naar, marketing manager for Ikea US. “As the only major home furnishings retailer without a credit card, we are proud to introduce the Ikea Card.”

Garden Ridge plans to close its Houston Airtex store in January after losing the store's lease and will be relocating it later in 2006.

Airtex will start liquidating merchandise immediately.

“This is a bittersweet moment in the history of Garden Ridge,” said CEO Tom Kibarian. “Closing one of the original stores in the chain is hard on everyone, but with Airtex store sales representing less than 2 percent of the chain, we feel it's time to relocate the store to achieve continued growth and future expansion.”

Westin Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Nordstrom, Inc. are expanding Westin's signature line of products to include the Westin Heavenly Dog Bed.

Appearing in Nordstrom At Home departments is Westin's Heavenly Dog Bed. Westin's Heavenly Dog Bed is a custom-designed oversized pet pillow covered in a signature Heavenly Bed duvet that mirrors the hotels' human bed and guest room design. Each bed comes with a travel case.

Westin's all-white Heavenly Beds for people are carried in select Nordstrom stores nationwide.