Joules has acquired the leases of three former Penny Plain retail outlets as it extends its retail chain. The new stores are in Chichester, Bath and Marlborough.

Arcadia has named Dominic McBrien as its new group e-commerce director as it plans significant investment in its transactional websites. On the cards is an extension of its reach into overseas markets following the lead of its TopShop site which fulfils orders for customers in the USA, Australia and Ireland.

Dual channel DVD & video businesses ChoicesUK is to enter administration and its shares have been suspended. The 160 store chain and website operation which employ 1650 staff has underperformed over the past year and the directors’ attempts to secure new financing have failed. The business which was founded in 1986 and floated in 2001 is the latest in the long line of casualties in the music sector.

Hotel Chocolat has contracted with a US distribution company to launch an online test offer spanning five US cities this October. An initial offering of 100 products will be available for delivery to customers in New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco. The business may follow this with store openings.

Schuh which has 46 of its own stores along with 26 concessions has relaunched its website to offer customers a more rounded shopping experience. The site features comparison tools, a zoom facility, and alternative styles finder as well as an express next day delivery option. Schuh stocks over a hundred footwear brands as well as its own range.

Direct PC supplier Dell has fired some of its employees and re-assigned others following an internal investigation which found that accounts had been manipulated to show the business in a stronger light than was the case. This will now involve a profit write off of an estimated £75 million and ongoing investigations into these financial irregularities by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York attorney’s office.

The House of Fraser is set to launch its first online store next month with an offering of fashion, homewares and gifts.

The latest speakers confirmed for ECMOD are: Catherine Hall from Figleaves, Anthony Norman from GfK, Sherry Chiger from Catalogue e|business and newly returned from the USA, international consultant Justin Metcalf. After the unveiling of the ECMOD conference programme last week the ECMOD offices have been swamped with enquiries and bookings. Most popular so far are Amy Africa with her Extraordinary Web and Email workshops, closely followed by Lois Boyle's Catalogues Under Creative Scrutiny workshop. Download the brochure today and check back at www.ecmod.com on Friday when the full and final programme will be published