Marketing

IRVING, Texas — To celebrate its 40th birthday, Michaels will launch the first-ever Michaels Craft Tour this month in a specially designed 18-wheeler that features a fully stocked, 1,000-sq.-ft. craft room on the inside. 

The tour will travel throughout the U.S. from coast-to-coast, visiting store openings, outdoor festivals and other events along the way.

PARK CITY, Utah — Skullcandy is relocating certain departments, making changes to its executive team and searching for a new CFO so it can better align its product, marketing and sales functions. 

As such, the company is relocating its marketing, creative, business development and legal departments, as well as certain sales and international personnel to its headquarters in Park City, Utah, and will close the office in San Clemente, Calif., which has historically housed significant portions of these functions. 

TORONTO — Hudson's Bay Company, owner of retailers Hudson's Bay, Home Outfitters and Lord & Taylor, has made changes to the company's executive structure. 

Bonnie Brooks, president of Hudson's Bay Company, has been appointed the company’s vice chair. Liz Rodbell, EVP and chief merchant for Hudson's Bay Company, will become its president. Brooks and Rodbell will report to chairman and CEO Richard Baker. 

Simon Property Group is employing a novel strategy to generate traffic to some of its signature properties that appeal to well-heeled South American tourists.

LAS VEGAS — Mattel Brands and Fisher-Price is looking to remain a key player in the global market. To that end, the company is restructuring its licensing approach and prioritizing its portfolio of brands to create partnerships that foster global growth. 

The Mattel Brands consumer products group has identified global business category leaders and a global creative team to further support growth, ensure product quality and create a meaningful differentiation for partners and consumers.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — QVC, a global video and e-commerce retailer, has appointed former Starbucks executive Mustafa El-Rafey as the company’s SVP of talent management and rewards. El-Rafey will lead the development and implementation of a dynamic talent management and rewards strategy for QVC.

He will report to EVP of human resources and workplace services Beth Rubino.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — AlignMed, a developer of wellness wear, has appointed Robert J. Meers as the company’s CEO. He will be charged with driving the company’s growth and strategic direction.

New York -- Despite continuing economic uncertainty, new data from KPMG indicates retailers are ready to invest capital to spur growth this year. The 2013 KPMG Retail Outlook Survey shows that 85% of retail executives expect capital spending will increase or remain the same during the next year. When asked where they will increase spending most, executives most frequently cited geographic expansion (61%), IT (40% and advertising and marketing/branding (24%).

San Jose -- Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp. is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of the filing, Orchard Supply has reached an agreement for Lowe’s to purchase acquire the majority of its assets for $205 million in cash, plus the assumption of payables owed to nearly all of Orchard’s supplier partners. Under the terms of the agreement, Lowe’s, serving as “stalking horse bidder,” would acquire no less than 60 of Orchard’s stores, based on further due diligence on the store locations.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Domino’s is offering a new program called “Second Hand Logos” on Pinterest. Ten artists are using old materials featuring the old Domino’s logo, such as uniforms and signage, to create artwork which is displayed for sale on Domino’s Pinterest page. In addition to selling products, the Pinterest page will also provide updates on art projects and information on the artists. A separate dedicated e-commerce page will also bring visitors directly to the Domino’s Pinterest page.