Marketing

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday welcomed a letter from lawmakers urging the Internal Revenue Service to back off a proposed accounting rule change that could cost many retailers millions of dollars a year.



New York -- George Zimmer, the founder and pitchman of Men’s Wearhouse, wasted no time in firing back at the company that fired him as executive chairman on Wednesday morning.  In a statement released to CNBC, Zimmer suggested that disagreements with the company’s board led to his abrupt termination:

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate has arranged five retail leases for space in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

T-Mobile signed three leases for 4,225 sq. ft. The company will move into 1,600 sq. ft. in Kempsriver Crossing in Virginia Beach, 1,500 sq. ft. in Southern Shopping Center in Norfolk and 1,125 sq. ft. in Indian River Shoppes in Chesapeake.

Original Mattress Factory is relocating to a larger space in Sam’s Circle in Chesapeake. The new space is 2,400 sq. ft.

Los Angeles -- PizzaRev, the fast-casual artisan pizza concept, will build a flagship location in Burbank’s shopping and entertainment district at the intersection of E. Palm Ave. & N. San Fernando Blvd.

The company has announced plans to add two new locations in Oxnard and El Segundo, Calif. this summer and to begin franchising soon. PizzaRev currently operates three locations in Studio City, Woodland Hills and Northridge, Calif.

Fremont, Calif. -- Men’s Wearhouse announced Wednesday that it has fired its founder and executive chairman George Zimmer; no reason was given for the sudden move.

NEW YORK — The Estée Lauder Companies has appointed Michael O’Hare as the company’s EVP, global human resources. O’Hare will report jointly to executive chair William P. Lauder and president and CEO Fabrizio Freda.

Men’s Wearhouse said it terminated company founder and executive chairman George Zimmer on Wednesday and postponed its annual meeting.

No explanation was offered for Zimmer’s termination, but the company indicated the board of directors, "expects to discuss with Mr. Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of his ongoing relationship with the company."

Washington, D.C. – The Retail Industry Leaders Association elected Ron Boire, president of Sears and Kmart, to its board of directors, during its semi-annual meeting in Washington, D.C. 

The board also re-elected Home Depot chair and CEO Francis Blake, 7-Eleven president and CEO Joseph DePinto, Petco CEO James Myers and J.C. Penney CEO Myron Ullman.

NORWOOD, Mass. — Hot Wheels has entered into a licensing agreement with Toy State, a leading manufacturer of licensed and highly stylized lights-and-sound toy vehicles. 

The agreement, which runs through 2016, gives Toy State the green light to design and build a new line of high-octane custom versions of Hot Wheels remote-controlled and lights-and-sound toys. 

NEW YORK — Leading U.S. toymaker Jakks Pacific has expanded its licensing agreement with Televisa, the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world, and Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic Americans, for the “El Chavo” brand.