Marketing

Wayne, N.J. – The “Island of Misfit Toys” from the legendary Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer holiday special has nothing on Toys “R” Us. Toys "R" Us is running its 10th annual "Great Trade-In" event that lets customers exchange potentially unsafe, old and second-hand cribs, high chairs, car seats, strollers and other items in exchange for savings on a new item.

The chief executive of Barnes & Noble Inc.’s retail group will retire May 2.

Mitchell Klipper, will continue to work with the company as a special adviser on real estate and other matters, Barnes & Noble said. The company said it has begun to search for a new retail CEO, and Klipper will help in the process.

Conn’s is launching a new philanthropic program to help improve the communities it serves by empowering children.

Conn’s Cares is the company’s first program to will galvanize every employee around a single cause at all Conn’s locations, the company said.

“Our vision is that Conn’s Cares will become an enduring investment in the children of the communities we serve,” said Theodore Wright, Conn’s chairman and CEO. “We are committed to the idea that every child should have an opportunity to succeed.”

(L-R) Target's Brian Cornell and Walgreens' Alexander Gourlay

Sportsman’s Warehouse will honor those serving in the U.S. military and public safety occupations with a special promotion.

On Military and Public Safety Appreciation Day, Jan. 24, 2015, the stores will offer discounts of up to 20%. Firearms, ammunition, optics and electronics will be offered with a 10% discount.

New York -- Chinese online giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is testing a mobile messaging app designed to combine social networking with business.

The app, called DingTalk, is still in beta testing.

Capable of carrying conference calls and group messaging, DingTalk targets small- and medium-sized enterprises, many of which are already Alibaba's customers, according to Reuters.

New York -- Apparel manufacturer and retailer Kellwood has named Joseph Lombardi, the former CFO of Barnes & Noble, as CEO.

Lombardi joined Kellwood as CFO in 2013, and has three decades of retail experience across a variety of sectors, including apparel.

Bethesda, Md. -- Washington Prime Group Inc. has completed its previously announced acquisition of Glimcher Realty Trust, created a new company WP Glimcher, based in Columbus, Ohio.

Mark S. Ordan will serve as executive chairman of the combined company’s board of directors and Michael P. Glimcher will serve as the combined company’s CEO and Vice Chairman, reporting to Ordan.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail Properties of America, Inc., has it closed on its $162.8-million acquisition of the retail portion of Downtown Crown, a class A mixed-use project located in Gaithersburg, Maryland (Washington, D.C. MSA). RPAI acquired the project from The JBG Companies and JBGR Retail.

Glendale, Calif. -- Cypress Equities companies announced that LA Fitness, Buffalo Wild Wings and AT&T will open at Glendale Marketplace in 2015.

"This collection of synergistic new offerings will begin transforming the tenant mix at Glendale Marketplace," said Todd Minnis, chief investment officer.  "This is the first step toward our redevelopment process."