Marketing

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- LeapFrog Enterprises was honored at 13th annual Toy Industry Association's Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards ceremony held in New York on Feb. 9, receiving recognition in two categories. The learning tablet, LeapPad2, received the inaugural "People's Choice Toy of the Year" and "Educational Toy of the Year" awards. 

HOUSTON — Stage Stores is consolidating its South Hill, Virginia regional operations into its Houston, Texas corporate headquarters, in an effort to increase efficiency, create synergies, reduce expenses and enhance growth.

ROSEVILLE, Calif. -- Revionics a leading provider of end-to-end merchandise optimization solutions, has entered into a channel partnership agreement with Supply Nexus, a solutions provider specializing in the design and implementation of multichannel distribution and supply chain management solutions. This channel partnership will offer the Spain and Portugal retail markets Revionics end-to-end merchandise optimization solutions.

NEW YORK — New York & Company and actress Eva Mendes announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement to collaborate and create a co-branded seasonal capsule collection available at New York & Company (NY&C) stores nationwide and online beginning fall '13. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. The to-be-named label will feature apparel and accessory items inspired by Mendes' own personal style and red carpet looks.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — With gun control at the forefront of public debate, it may seem like odd timing for Gander Mountain to open a firearms superstore. Yet, that is exactly what the outdoor retailer is doing in Ohio.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties has announced the promotions of Gary Roddy to VP collections, Tricia Tweedie to VP billings and Jim Ward to VP branding.

Commenting on the promotions, CBL’s president, Stephen Lebovitz said, “These individuals have established themselves as leaders within CBL in their respective fields and the shopping center industry. We are pleased to recognize their accomplishments and significant contributions to the company with these promotions.”

Chicago -- Claire’s Stores announced Tuesday that Sam’s Club EVP and chief merchandising officer Linda Hefner Filler has been named president of Claire’s North America, effective March 1.

Filler will report to CEO Jim Fielding and will be charged with implementing operational and strategic initiatives for Claire's in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

New York -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Dec. 29 decreased to $636.8 million, compared with $373.6 million in the year-ago period.

However, the designer and retailer forecasted fiscal 2013 profit at more than double its year-earlier performance.   

Revenue surged 70% in the third quarter, fueled by strength in the accessories category, and the company predicts that fiscal 2013 sales will leap 62%.
 

Salt Lake City -- Overstock.com said Tuesday that chairman and CEO Patrick Byrne will take a leave of absence for medical reasons. Company president Jonathan Johnson will assume Byrne’s CEO duties during the leave, although Byrne will remain chairman of the board.

Byrne, in recent years, had undergone various procedures regarding cardiac issues that may stem from his earlier episodes of cancer, and his leave of absence is associated with these cardiac issues.

OTTAWA, Ontario — PlaSmart Inc., the Ottawa-based global toy distributor, announced that its brainteaser game PerplexusTM Epic was named the 2013 Game of the Year last night by the Toy Industry Association.

The Toy of The Year (TOTY) award is the latest accolade earned by PerplexusTM Epic, which also received the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Seal of Approval, among others.