Marketing

MINNEAPOLIS — Target's entry into Canada is nearing completion, as the company Friday finalized its real estate transaction with Zellers Inc. with the selection of 84 additional Zellers leases, bringing the total number of leases selected, including an initial group of 105 leases selected in May, to 189. From this second group, Target has acquired the leasehold interests for 29 locations, the vast majority of which will open as Target stores beginning in 2013. The remaining leases have been or will be sold to other Canadian retailers or back to landlords.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Online, club, dollar, toy and consumer electronics retailers, as well as categories such as gift cards, technology, vacations and toys, will all perform well this season, according to Nielsen’s fourth-annual Holiday Shopping Sales Survey.

Across all income levels, only 5% of U.S. households plan to spend more this year, with affluent households (those earning $100,000 or more) leading the way.

When Quincy, Mass.’s new downtown shopping district is officially unveiled, the City will host some of America’s premier retail destinations — thanks to a first-of-its kind joint venture between Street-Works Development and National Realty and Development Corp., based in Purchase, N.Y.

The partnership was announced on Sept. 21 by the City of Quincy, Street-Works and NRDC.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has launched a new line of exclusive office chairs from the Style@Work by Thomasville collection. According to the company, the Style@Work by Thomasville collection provides customers with luxury home office chairs at an affordable price, and are currently available at nationwide Office Depot retail store locations and online at www.officedepot.com.

Montreal -- Jewelry chain Birks & Mayors said Wednesday that its president and CEO Tom Andruskevich has said he will resign from the company, effective spring 2012, and will continue in a new board role as vice chairman.

His spring 2012 resignation is contingent upon the naming of a successor. He said he is leaving because he wants to pursue “board positions and advisory roles for luxury brands and other high-end companies.”

Andruskevich joined the company in his current capacity in June 1996.
 

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to create a new line of home office items that have female appeal.

The line, to be called Martha Stewart Home Office, will be made by Avery Dennison Corp. and will include some 300 products. The items will make its debut in Staples stores in early 2012.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples announced that it has teamed up with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Avery Dennison to create a new line of home office products.

The Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery product line will debut in early 2012 with more than 300 SKUs across multiple product categories, which will be sold exclusively at Staples.

Irvine, Calif. -- Pet retailer Passionate Pets said Thursday it has named Keith Martin, former senior VP operations at Petco, to its board of directors.

The company also named Todd Peterson, CPA at KSNE2 Enterprises, to the board.

The company is preparing for an IPO and, according to its president and CEO John Dunn, who worked with Martin at both Petco and Office Depot, the pair is expected to help lead Passionate Pet through the IPO stage.