Marketing

New York -- Crocs Inc. has named McKinney as its global advertising agency of record. The agency will provide everything from creative and strategy support to media activation and brand management for all Crocs shoe collections.  

New York -- Online beauty retailer Birchbox is launching in Canada, marking the sixth country the company has expanded to since launching in the United States in Sept. 2010.      Since our launch in 2010, we’ve had tens of thousands of customer inquiries regarding shipping to Canada,” says Birchbox co-Founder and co-CEO Katia Beauchamp. “So we’re thrilled to finally bring Birchbox north of the border.”  

Lexington, Ky. --CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of the expansion at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky. Designed to significantly enhance the offerings at the shopping center, the redevelopment of the former Sears location included expanding the mall entrance to create 115,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for a mix of fashion stores, home furnishings and fine dining options in the heart of the shopping center.

New York City -- Chelsea Bagel, operating on West 14th Street for the past five years, has leased its second Manhattan location.  

Atlanta -- Global Franchise Group, the brand management company and franchisor behind Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery,  MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery and Hot Dog on a Stick, has hired Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate. Kmiec will be responsible for directing GFG’s real estate team in the areas of strategic site selection, lease negotiation and store design for franchisees and corporate owned locations.  

Manhattan Beach, Calif. -- Skechers is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th retail store. The company, which operates in more than 75 countries, hit the milestone mark with the opening of a new store in Mexico City on Wednesday, preceded by an additional store opening in Mexico earlier this week and two in California last week.  

Salisbury, N.C. -- Food Lion has unveiled a new, easier shopping experience for customers in 45 remodeled stores in the greater Greenville, New Bern and Jacksonville, N.C., market.    "Our customers told us that they want a grocery experience where it's easy to shop, easy to save and easy to figure out what is for dinner tonight," said Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. "In these stores, we've worked to deliver just that.”

Veteran apparel merchant Celia Clancy spent time at Bradlees, Walmart and TJX Companies. Now she is the newest member of struggling specialty retailer Body Central’s board of directors.

The retail inventory specialist firm WIS International named merchandising and marketing services veteran Jim Rose as its new president and CEO.

Rose most recently served as president of marketing services at CROSSMARK, a leading provider of marketing and merchandising services. Rose also previously served as chairman and CEO for Mosaic Sales Solutions and also held senior roles at The Nielsen Company and MPG, a global advertising and communications company.

Walmart continues to expand its view of Black Friday and is encouraging shoppers to do the same by rethinking the practice of waiting in line on Black Friday to secure limited quantities of merchandise.