Marketing

New York City -- Saks said Tuesday it will open a licensed Saks Fifth Avenue store in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in August 2012.

The full-line department store, which will tailor its merchandise to the region, will open in Esentai Shopping Mall, which is part of a new mixed-use development featuring residential, office and hospitality components.

The three-story, 91,000-sq.-ft. store will showcase a three-story-high, state-of-the-art digital video screen on the building’s facade. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is highlighting health-and-wellness issues through its latest campaign, and has pledged to donate up to $2 million to four nonprofits.

The retailer's 2011 Giving Made Simple campaign allows Sam's Club members and associates to direct a portion of the company's donations to four health-related nonprofit organizations: Alliance for a Healthier Generation, OASIS, Sesame Street and The Y.

Last week Janney Montgomery Scott analyst David Strasser downgraded shares of Target to neutral from buy. He offered a litany of things that could go wrong with the Target story, which were subsequently refuted by someone named Will Ashworth on the website “Investopedia.”

RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson has introduced Windex Mini, a concentrated refill pouch that uses 90% less plastic packaging than a traditional 26 fluid ounce trigger bottle.

According to SC Johnson, data shows U.S. consumers are not keen on refilling their household cleaning bottles and is hoping the launch of Windex Mini will help the company understand why that is the case.

The first Target stores in Canada won’t open until 2013, but the company recently announced it retained MDC Partners to lead the development of its overall marketing efforts. According to the company, the MDC integrated team is being led by kbs+p Canada and Veritas Communications, along with support from Northstar Research Partners and BOOM! Marketing. 

New York City -- Survey results released Tuesday showed that higher salaries, job mobility, and a strong emphasis on “quality of life” benefits are redefining the job market in retail and fashion.

According to 24 Seven’s Fifth Annual Salary Survey, conducted in collaboration with the American Apparel & Footwear Association, 68% of respondents plan to make a career move in the next year, with nearly half already looking for a new job.

New York City -- O'Neill Clothing, a surf, snow and youth lifestyle brand, will open a flagship in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 8.

Inspired by the oceanfront home of company founder Jack O'Neill's, the store is designed to offer an authentic environment to illustrate the brand’s lifestyle. Window displays showcase one-of-a-kind artwork from O'Neill employees and friends, and the interior is lined with various photography from past decades and current advertising campaigns.

Former and short-time Walmart executive Robert Atencio is among a group of marketers slated to interview former P&G chairman and CEO A.G. Lafley during an event called Shopper Insights in Action. The 11th annual event is billed as a riveting brainstorming session in which the former P&G head will share thoughts on the future of research, marketing, retail and the evolution of the changing consumer. Atencio, who formerly served as VP insights and customer strategy at Walmart, is currently VP global insights at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.