Events

Finish Line aims hashtag promo at women
Indianapolis -- The Finish Line Inc. is launching a digital initiative focused on female customers in step with the Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco on Oct. 19. The retailer’s #FNLRunsSF campaign follows the training journeys of eight female fitness gurus, selected from across the country.
Macerich Malls and HGTV partner for high-tech “Santa HQ” experience
New York -- HGTV will launch “Santa HQ,” an immersive experience that transforms the traditional visit with Santa Claus into an interactive journey, at 10 Macerich malls across the country, starting on Nov. 4, and lasting through Dec. 24.

September retail sales show weakness

Washington, D.C. -- September retail sales, excluding automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants, decreased 0.1% seasonally adjusted month-to-month yet increased 4.6% unadjusted year-over-year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), seasonal factors played a role, but the drop-off from August was worse than expected.
DSW plans omnichannel ‘Shoe Lover’ promo

Columbus, Ohio -– DSW Inc. is running a one-day promotion called “National Shoe Lover Day” on Saturday, Oct. 25. Each of the 428 DSW stores, plus dsw.com, will participate.
Fashionable father to lead dad’s day committee

Matthew Youngs, president of Ralph Lauren Childrenswear and Latin America has been named chairman of the National Father’s Day Committee.

In this new capacity, Youngs will collaborate with Dan Orwig, president and CEO of The Father’s Day/Mother’s Day Council, to oversee and execute the Annual Father of the Year Awards luncheon benefitting Save the Children’s U.S. Programs.
Books-A-Million brews support for troops

Books-A-Million Inc. is once again accepting Joe Muggs coffee donations for their Coffee for the Troops campaign that will benefit troops serving overseas and stateside.
NRF: Per-person holiday spending to rise 5%, with 44% of shopping done online

Washington, D.C. -- The average person celebrating Christmas, Kwanza and/or Hanukkah will spend $804.42, up nearly 5% from 2013’s actual $767.27, according to the National Retail Federation’s 13th annual Holiday Consumer Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. In other results, the average shopper plans to do 44% of their holiday shopping online, the most in the survey’s history.
Land O’Lakes challenges food leaders

Ensuring the roughly nine billion people who are estimated to inhabit the planet by 2050 have enough to eat is a big challenge. That’s why Land O’Lakes has introduced new program to fund big ideas from future food leaders.
Intel opens in-store “experience” shops in 50 Best Buy locations

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Intel debuted “The Intel Experience” in-store shops in 50 Best Buy locations nationwide. The hands-on “experience zone” gives shoppers the opportunity to try, explore and play with the latest, cutting-edge technologies from 3-D printing to digital disc-jockey remixing.
Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce secures leasing assignment for Pawn Plaza in Las Vegas

Las Vegas -- Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce has been awarded the leasing assignment for Pawn Plaza in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new retail project will be located along Las Vegas Boulevard next to the World-Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which is featured on cable channel History’s No. 1 show, “Pawn Stars.”
Gap to outdo Walmart in holiday hires; plans Holiday Hiring Blitz events nationwide

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. plans to hire more than 63,000 seasonal associates—more than Walmart—at its stores, call centers and distribution centers nationwide for the 2014 holiday season. (Walmart previously announced it was hiring 60,000 seasonal associates.)
RetailROI partner and founder featured on CBS Evening News tonight