Events

NRF: Back-to-school demand boosts imports
Washington, D.C. – Kids may be unhappy about back-to-school season, but importers are surely thrilled.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 7.3% in July 2015 month from the same time last year as retailers stock up for the busy back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
More retailers dump Trump
New York – Retailers are continuing to cut ties with real estate developer and Republican presidential primary candidate Donald Trump in the wake of his recent disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants.

Following in the footsteps of Macy’s, off-price retailers T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have said they will no longer sell branded Trump apparel and accessories. And that’s not the end of it.

Sneak Peak: Check out CityTarget’s first East Coast store

Photo via Boston Business Journal

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is taking its urban-format to the East Coast.

The retailer will open a CityTarget location in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood on July 22. Boston Business Journal offers a sneak peek at the three-level, 160,000-sq.-ft. store.

Click here.
Books-A-Million plans big Harper Lee promotions

Books-A-Million is getting ready for the much-anticipated release of “Go Set a Watchman” from Harper Lee with an exclusive promotion.
Sally Beauty takes a turn on the runway

Sally Beauty is embarking on a broad initiative to update and evolve its brand by teaming up Lifetime's Emmy-nominated show, Project Runway.
Walmart moves on U.S. manufacturing pledge

Walmart is joining forces with a new supplier database provider to support the retailer’s manufacturing initiative, which aims to find U.S. suppliers to manufacture products.

The move is part of Walmart's commitment to invest $250 billion in products that will support and create American jobs by 2023. Based on data from Boston Consulting Group, it is estimated that one million new U.S. jobs will be created through this initiative.
Walmart does things differently, see how

It was a busy few days in Bentonville earlier this week when Walmart held its “Made In USA” Open Call event combined with a U.S. Manufacturing Summit.
New West Elm boasts armory-inspired design

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- The design of West Elm’s upcoming store was inspired by a armory.

The retailer will open its ninth New York store on July 23. The 10,600-sq,-ft. store is located at Culver Road Armory, in Rochester.
CityLine to add three new restaurants to mix

Photo: Fernando’s owner Fernando Padilla with CityLine location general manager Omar Hernandez.
Mommy, I want a Bearded Dragon

A unique traffic generating and sales diversification promotion that doesn’t involved dogs and cats will take place at Petco stores nationwide on July 18.

The operator of more than 1,400 locations plans to host a two hour Reptile Rally on Saturday July 18 where the objective is to expose customers to the world of reptiles, create interest in ownership and the wide range of products that are available.
Shopping Centers: Four Strategies for Giving Back

Just as the agora in Ancient Greece was the central meeting place where the community could come together to purchase goods from the market, connect with their friends and learn about the latest news, so too are today’s modern shopping centers a place that connects local residents. Today, by leveraging their structure and location, shopping centers can go one step further to affect positive change in their local communities and the nation at large by back to make local residents’ lives better.
Sports Authority kicks off summer with football clinic

The Sports Authority attracted more than 2,000 attendees to its free annual football clinic in Denver and helped educate parents and kids on player safety.

The event at Sports Authority Field at Mile High included on-field football training and a vendor expo. The football clinic, which had more than 670 participants between the ages of 6 and 14, allowed players to navigate through drill stations dedicated to specific skills such as passing, catching, running, defense, agility training, Heads Up Tackling and more.