Marketing

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands' EVP and COO Kerry Carr is about to take on a third title at the company as its new CFO. The news comes amid the company's announcement that it has sold the Russ and Applause brands to Larsen and Bowman Holdings for $1.25 million.

Carr replaces James Christl, whose resignation for personal reasons from his position as SVP and CFO has been accepted by the company.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. has announced the appointment of Merianne Roth to the new post of VP – communications. She will manage the company’s corporate communications, community relations, internal communications and event marketing.

Roth comes to RadioShack from the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she served as VP, marketing and communications. Her experience includes marketing and communications posts with J.C. Penney and Pier 1 Imports.

Rockville, Md. -- Federal Realty Investment Trust has announced that Russ Joyner has joined the company has VP-general manager of Assembly Row. Joyner’s responsibilities will include management and operations at the mixed-use development project in Somerville, Mass. Currently under construction, Assembly Row will open in mid-2014.

Naperville, Ill. – OfficeMax has signed a lease agreement to open the first of its business solutions center concept stores in Chicago. The 3,900-sq.-ft. store, located in a currently unoccupied space at 550 St. Clair Street in the Streeterville neighborhood, will open later this summer and cater to the needs of business customers.

Special services for business customers will include enhanced technology support, marketing, document and shipping services, and expert associates.

ECRM compared retail circular advertising in June 2012 vs. June 2013 and noticed some common overall trends across top retail chains. Although Staples and Walmart each saw large year-over-year increases in circular page count, page count was fairly stable overall, with none of these key retailers seeing a decrease of more than 13%.

Corte Madera, Calif. – Gary Friedman, chairman emeritus of Restoration Hardware, has been named chairman of the board and co-CEO. Friedman, former co-CEO of Restoration Hardware, will serve with co-CEO Carlos Alberini.

Hasbro and Electronic Arts have taken their relationship to the next level and extended their agreement, which will see EA develop several of Hasbro’s bestselling gaming brands for mobile platforms globally. 

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — For the second year in a row, Walmart Canada is holding its Great Big Toy Testing Event, which not only gets parents and their children into stores, but also showcases toys for the 2013 holiday season in a real-world holiday wish list catalog setting.