Marketing

Bentonville, Ark.  -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday announced that the company’s 2012 Annual Shareholders meeting will be held on Fri., June 1, 2012 at 7 a.m. CDT, in Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. 

The meeting also will be webcast on the company’s website at http://walmartstores.com/investors%3C/a%3E. Following the meeting, there will be an informal 30-minute live question and answer session with company executives for shareholders.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us has named Richard Barry as  senior VP, chief merchandising officer, Toys“R”Us, U.S.  In his new role, Barry is responsible for all aspects of merchandising initiatives for the company’s U.S. operations.

Prior to the promotion, Barry served as VP, general merchandising manager for Toys“R”Us, U.S., overseeing the learning and electronics and entertainment product categories.

New York — J.C. Penney Co. on Friday said it fully backs its partnership with the popular television star and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Its support comes after One Million Moms, an extension of the conservative American Family Association group, asked the retailer to dump DeGeneres as a spokeswoman because she is a lesbian.

Topeka, Kansas — Payless ShoeSource, a division of Collective Brands, announced that it has signed two new franchise agreements with partners Emart, a business unit of Shinsegae Group, Seoul, for stores in Korea, and Central Marketing Group, a business unit of Central Group, Bangkok, for stores in Thailand and Vietnam, bringing the total countries, which will have franchised Payless stores to 20 countries.

Payless and its partners said that in 2012 they expect six store openings in Korea, as well as five stores each to open in Thailand and Vietnam.

Denver -- Chipotle Mexican Grill expects to open 155–165 new Chipotle locations in 2012.

"While this is more restaurants than we've ever opened in a single year, we are confident," said co-CEO Montgomery Moran in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Moran cited the "quality of what's in the real estate pipeline."

 

New York City -- Aeropostale said Friday it has appointed seven-year board member Karin Hirtler-Garvey as chairman of the board, replacing Julian R. Geiger who has stepped down as chairman and resigned from the board.

In November, Gieger left his chairman/CEO post with Aeropostale to join Crumbs Bake Shop as president and CEO.

Hirtler-Garvey is a CPA, and most recently was the chief risk executive for Ally Financial Inc.  Prior to that, she held various senior level management positions at Bank of America.

New York City -- Saks Fifth Avenue said Friday that, during February, it will give 5% of all registered purchases made with a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card back to local charities.

Saks Fifth Avenue has partnered with 194 charitable organizations nationwide.

“We appreciate our customers’ charitable involvement and look forward to giving back locally with this exciting and newly implemented national program,” said Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO, Saks Inc.

Los Angeles -- SkuLoop, a retail solution provider offering a suite of tools that allows retailers and brands to build their own digital promotions, announced that veteran fashion executive Trent MacLean has joined its board of advisors. He previously served as president and COO of 7 for all Mankind and Paige Denim, and prior to that as president of Liz Claiborne Casual Sportswear and president of Liz Claiborne Canada.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc. has appointed a former executive as CEO of its namesake brand. The company named Tedford Marlow as head of the Urban Outfitters Group, effective Feb. 6. Marlow he retired from the chain in 2010, after spending nine years as president of the Urban Outfitters brand.

The announcement came almost a month after Richard Hayne, the company's chairman and president, succeeded CEO Glen Senk, who resigned. Hayne co-founded the company in 1970.
 

Salisbury, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food will open an additional seven stores in the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets on Feb. 9

The discount grocer opened its first seven stores in the greater Pittsburgh area on Jan. 26.