Marketing

New York -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced plans to launch an exclusive American Idol apparel collection. The newly created line -- Authentic Icon (AI) -- will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and Kohls.com beginning in April.

Minneapolis -- Opus Development Corp. said Wednesday that it has been selected to develop, design and build a new 52,000-sq.-ft. retail store for Gander Mountain Co., located in Valdosta, Ga.

The retail building will be used as a model for future Gander Mountain stores as the retailer looks to introduce a smaller retail concept in small-to-mid-size markets across the country.

The project is scheduled for completion in late 2012.

Opus AE Group will design the building and it will be constructed by Opus Design Build.

WILTON, Conn. — Skin care company Beiersdorf, whose brands include Nivea, Eucerin and Aquaphor, has announced changes to its sales organization.

Tina Jackse has been promoted to the newly created position of VP global sales of Walmart, where she will be responsible for all Walmart business internationally. She will work collaboratively across the Beiersdorf affiliates around the world to help lead, develop and further strengthen Beiersdorf’s Walmart business globally. 

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores is looking to cash in on the popularity of the music competition show, "American Idol," by launching an exclusive American Idol apparel collection. The line will be called Authentic Icon and will be available exclusively at Kohl’s and Kohls.com beginning in April.

New York -- StoreBoard Media announced Tuesday that its licensee, StoreBoard Media Canada, has added Staples Canada and Zellers to its in-store billboard network, which offers marketers an opportunity to advertise their brands on security pedestals located at entranceways and in other high-traffic areas of stores.

The pair of agreements will add nearly 4,000 security pedestals to the StoreBoard Canada network.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — QVC is building a presence in China through a new joint venture with Beijing-based China National Radio (CNR), China's government-owned radio division. Through this partnership, CNR and QVC will jointly operate a multimedia retailing business in China through the CNR Mall TV shopping channel and its e-commerce website (www.CNRMall.com), leveraging the strengths and resources of each company.

New York City -- J. Crew Group reported Monday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose to $15.1 million, from $4 million in the same period last year. Revenues surged 13% to $531 million, and same-store sales rose 6%.

For the full year, the retailer reported a profit decline to $51.5 million, from $121.5 million in 2010. Annual revenues rose 8% to $1.9 billion, and same-store sales increased 7%.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. reported Tuesday that profit for the fourth quarter rose to $19.4 million from $200,000 a year earlier, beating analysts’ estimates for the quarter.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose 10% to $513.7 million, surpassing Wall Street’s estimated $511.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales increased 5.6%.