Strategy

New York City -- While the majority of global consumers still perceive store brands to be the same as or better than national brands, a one year trend analysis indicates that their positive perceptions toward store brands may be starting to decline slightly. This is the latest finding from a study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods.

Los Angeles -- CB Richard Ellis Group said Wednesday that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has awarded CB Richard Ellis a contract to serve as its exclusive provider of strategic corporate real estate solutions nationally.

CB Richard Ellis will provide transaction management services for USPS, including leasing and disposition. USPS’s portfolio consists of approximately 35,000 facilities, totaling over 300 million sq. ft.

Simpsonville, S.C. -- Centro Properties Group US announced two retailers will be joining Fairview Corners, located in Simpsonville, S.C.
 
Wild Oats Brewery will occupy a 4,556-sq.-ft. space; Upstate Gold Exchange will occupy a 1,500-sq.-ft. space.
 
Centro Properties Group, based in New York City, is the owner of Fairview Corners.
 

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced on Tuesday the hiring of Michael Weiss as senior VP in the South Florida office.

Waterford, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has been hired by Chase Enterprises to lease the 300,000-sq.-ft. Cross Roads Plaza, located in Waterford, Conn.

Cross Roads Plaza is anchored by Lowe’s, BJ’s, Bob’s and Regal Cinema.
 

Huntington, N.Y. -- Oak Brook, Ill.-based Inland Private Capital Corp. announced Wednesday the $40.2 million sale of Huntington Square Plaza, a grocery-anchored shopping center located in Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island.

Toronto-based RioCan Holdings purchased the 116,221-sq.-ft. center, which Inland Private Capital Corp. offered to a group of private tenant-in-common investors in 2004.

New York City -- Wal-Mart de Mexico SA said second-quarter profit fell 3.4% as the chain increased spending to open new stores and integrate Central American operations.

The Mexican unit of Wal-Mart Stores reported a net income of 4.49 billion pesos ($380 million) in the April-June period, down from 4.65 billion pesos during the same three months of 2010. Revenue rose 9% to 88.37 billion pesos ($7.49 billion).

CEO Scot Rank says spending to open new stores cut into profits but will help performance in the second half of the year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots has acquired 89 Liquidation World stores in Canada and becomes the latest U.S. retailer to pursue growth opportunities north of the border.

The company said it invested $20 million in cash and assumed certain liabilities in order to purchase all outstanding shares, satisfy debt obligations, and acquire all assets and leasehold rights of Liquidation World, an operator of 89 stores offering closeout merchandise. Big Lots currently operates 1,405 stores in the United States.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — SC Johnson is bringing together its cleaning brands in a new, lightweight sprayer.

The SC Johnson all-in-one cleaning system brings together Windex, Fantastik, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge and Shout Carpet. The cleaning system allows users to hold 3-of-the-5 concentrated cleaner cartridges at once in a single hand-held sprayer, allowing consumers to seamlessly clean each room and surface by instantly switching among the cleaners.

NEW YORK  — The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced the addition of six new members to the board of directors. The new directors were elected by a vote of the LIMA membership and their terms will run from July 1 through June 30, 2014. 

Joining the LIMA board are: