Marketing

Torrance, Calif. -- Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty, and Universal Parks & Resorts have announced their partnership to develop Hello Kitty interactive retail experience shops scheduled to open later this year at Universal Orlando Resort and in the future at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The first of Macy’s new off price Backstage stores aren’t due to open until this fall, but already the retailer is adding more locations for an off price format heralded as a key growth initiative.

The nation’s largest department store retailer created a stir earlier this year when it disclosed plans to open its first four Backstage stores in the greater New York area. The two additional locations are also in close proximity to New York. The stores are about 30,000-sq.-ft. and are staffed by 30 to 45 employees.

Photo: Fred Morganthall has been named senior VP of retail divisions for The Kroger Co.

EXETER, N.H. -- Bauer Hockey announced today that it will open its second retail store, in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Bloomington location is the second to be announced by Bauer Hockey, with the first-ever store expected to open in Burlington, Massachusetts, this summer.

PetSmart is enlisting the help of a cat-loving celebrity to launch a new kind of social media campaign.

The retailer has teamed up with actress Mayim Bialik to celebrate cat ownership and encourage cat adoption. Mayim, a longtime cat lover who is very passionate about adoption, has an adopted cat named Frances, a once feral cat that was deserving of a forever home. 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – A reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses helped Sears Holdings Corp. reduce its first quarter net loss even as its sales continued to slide. The results came in as the chain prepares for the launch of its real-estate investment trust this week to raise cash. Sears said it expects the REIT transaction to raise $2.6 billion.

Jewelry and accessories retailer Charming Charlie has opened its largest store yet, a three-level, 16,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Designed in partnership with Callison Architects, Seattle, the store features a two-story, 30-foot tall glass façade and 20-ft. tall double doors in the brand's signature vibrant pink lacquer.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s on Monday announced two more pilot store locations in metro New York City for its new off-price format, Macy’s Backstage. The additional stores brings to six the total number of Macy’s Backstage for launch. All are expected to open in fall 2015 and average about 30,000 sq. ft.

The added locations are at Fordham Place in The Bronx, and Essex Green Shopping Center, West Orange, New Jersey, where an existing Macy’s store will be converted to Macy’s Backstage.