Marketing

NEW YORK — Aeropostale announced that it has launced a rewards program for its children's retail brand, P.S. from Aeropostale. 

NEW YORK  — The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced the addition of six new members to the board of directors. The new directors were elected by a vote of the LIMA membership and their terms will run from July 1 through June 30, 2014. 

Joining the LIMA board are: 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that as part of its back-to-school campaign it would offer college students and their parents the ability to reserve purchases by making four payments throughout the summer and allowing students to pick up items at a Kmart store near their campus.

The promotion is part of the retailer's "Epic Year, Epic You!" campaign seeks to meet customers' evolving BTS needs.

CINCINNATI — Kroger banner Smith's has a new president. Mark Tuffin will succeed Jim Hallsey, who is retiring from his post after 47 years of service with Smith's and Kroger, the supermarket retailer announced Tuesday. Hallsey served in his role as president of Smith's since 2001.

Tuffin, who most recently served as Kroger's VP transition, leading the company's efforts to implement significant organizational changes between all areas of the business, brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role. Tuffin joined Smith's in 1996.

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi's announced that its Denizen jeans brand is making its U.S. debut exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com. 

The brand first launched in Asia in 2010 and is available in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea, in addition to the United States.

I’m not shedding any tears over the demise of Borders and neither is anyone else in the retail industry. It’s just business.

There are always a few sentimental customers who turn up with a choice quote or two in the formulaic media eulogies that appear whenever a retailer goes under, but those customers will just have to find somewhere else to sip coffee and read books for free.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it is making back-to-school shopping even easier with new store improvements. Back-to-school items are now organized, both in stores and online, in one place and categorized by school age group, so families can quickly and easily shop supplies appropriate for their child’s grade, the company reported. Many of the most common school supply list items are located down the center of the back-to-school aisle allowing families to quickly check these items off their list.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. said Tuesday that its veteran marketing chief Mike Boylson has retired from the company. His successor will be selected by newly minted CEO Ron Johnson in what will be the former Apple executive’s first senior-level appointment at J.C. Penney.

Boylson was with the department store chain for more than three decades, the last eight years as chief marketing officer. He said in June he would retire from the company on July 1, according to a J.C. Penney spokeswoman.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted Mark Tuffin to president of its Smith’s Division, succeeding the retiring Jim Hallsey.

Tuffin joined Smith's in 1996, and most recently served as VP merchandising. In 2009, he was named VP transition for Kroger.

He will assume responsibilities upon Hallsey's retirement at the end of July.
 

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management, L.P. and Garrison Investment Group, through their affiliates, acquired Chapel Hills Mall on June 1, and since have made changes that include a new ad campaign themed “Where to Shop.”

Launched July 1, the campaign offers the message: ‘Shop here because we have what you need’ and is being communicated through radio, television, newspaper, direct mail, in-mall signage, wall graphics and interior and exterior banners.