Marketing

SAN FRANCISCO — The rising cost of goods and a challenging economic environment took its toll on Gap Inc.'s first-quarter sales and earnings. Gap Inc. reported that net income for the first quarter decreased 23% to $233 million compared with $302 million for the first quarter last year. First quarter diluted earnings per share was 40 cents.  

VENLO, The Netherlands — Vistaprint N.V., a leading online provider of professional marketing products and services to micro businesses and the home, announced that Don LeBlanc will assume the role of chief marketing officer for Vistaprint's North American Business Unit. LeBlanc assumes the role vacated by Trynka Shineman, who was promoted to the position of president of Vistaprint's North American business unit earlier this year.

CLEVELAND — Glidden announced that on May 21 to 22 it will hold demonstrations at nearly 1,000 Walmart stores nationwide to showcase its exclusive ready-to-go paint testers with built-in brush attached to the lid. The two-ounce paint testers are available in all 306 colors in the Glidden Brilliance Collection palette. 

NEW YORK — Each year, the graduating class of the Master of Professional Studies degree program in cosmetics and fragrance marketing and management at FIT researches and forecasts trends or growth concepts within a specific area of the beauty industry, which they then present to an audience of industry executives.

Target sponsored this year's presentation titled "Beauty For All: Innovations in Mass Retail." On hand to deliver keynote remarks during the event was Will Setliff, VP marketing for Target.

Milford, Conn. -- Subway Restaurants said Friday that more than 2,000 franchisees are actively searching for locations slated for 2011 openings.

In order to reach its development goals, the chain said that a contingent of Subway representatives will be manning the brand’s booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon convention, May 23 to 25, in Las Vegas.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group Inc. announced that its Premium Outlets division has reached an agreement with the Gila River Indian Community's Wild Horse Pass Development Authority to develop Phoenix Premium Outlets, an upscale outlet shopping center serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale areas. 

Frisco, Texas -- The City of Frisco executed a Memorandum of Understanding with Forest City Development and its partner, Ernest Mahard Jr. to develop a 320-acre mixed-use development on the southwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 380. 

Bounded by Virginia Parkway and County Road 26, this development will encompass retail, residential, office, entertainment, hospitality, municipal parks and services. 

Austin, Texas -- The Weitzman Group announced that Bradley Bailey has been named senior VP and director of investment sales for Central Texas and The Valley for The Weitzman Group.

Bailey will work with Lance Morris, president of The Weitzman Group in Austin, and David Nicolson, president of Weitzman’s San Antonio office. 

In this new position, Bailey will handle investment sales and marketing for retail and commercial properties. 

New York City -- Cushman & Wakefield announced that Matthew Winn has been appointed senior managing director, U.S. Retail Services Leader. He will be based in Cushman & Wakefield’s Atlanta office.

Previously, Winn served as managing director for Cushman & Wakefield’s retail consulting group. 

Addison, Texas --Coyote Management, L.P. announced that Michael Carey will join Coyote Management starting June 1 as the new General Manager at Lakeshore Mall.

Carey comes to Coyote Management, L.P. with over nine years of experience in the shopping center industry. He began his career with Stein Mart, then spent nine years with CBL & Associates.