Events

LOS ANGELES — Virtual Piggy has integrated its youth-friendly payment system to Innovation First International, the company behind the award-winning Hexbug Micro Robotic Creatures and Vex Robotics product lines.

Innovation First International is a technology and engineering company that has launched several robotics product lines spanning the consumer toy, STEM education and business-to-business markets.

IRVINE, Calif. — Sanuk, a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, has made changes to its sales and marketing teams. The company has appointed Jeff Booth as its core national sales manager and Tommy Campagne as its core marketing manager.

IRVINE, Calif. — Sanuk, a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, has made changes to its sales and marketing teams. The company has appointed Jeff Booth as its core national sales manager and Tommy Campagne as its core marketing manager.  

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Home furnishings retailer West Elm is heading to the Midwest and getting set to open its first-ever retail store in St. Louis, Mo., Thursday, July 25.

Houston -- Mens Wearhouse estranged founder George Zimmer is noticeably absent from the chain’s latest commercial, which launched in print and broadcast on July 8.

According to a Reuters report, the new ad focuses on the company's National Suit Drive, an annual charity event that donated suits to unemployed men who are looking to get back in the workforce. Zimmer and his signature phrase — "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it," — are nowhere to be found.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Branded footwear and accessories retailer DSW recently leveraged social media to hold a contest encouraging existing and potential consumers to vote for nonprofit organizations nominated by DSW employees.

As part of the retailer's Shoe Lovers Care Leave Your Mark program, DSW employees nominated nearly 200 nonprofit organizations for the opportunity to win a grant. Finalists were selected by DSW and then presented via social media for public voting, which wrapped up in late June 2013.

National Retail Federation SVP for government relations David French spoke to Fox News' Stuart Varney about D.C.’s decision to pass a living wage bill requiring non-union, big box retailers to pay their employees $12.60 per hour. As a result of the bill's passing, Walmart has scrapped plans to open three stores in the District. While defenders of the bill point out that the living wage is a fair one given cost of living and the still challeneging economic climate, Varney says the District, via its council members, is turning down 2,000 jobs and French agrees.

New York -- The U.S. Green Building Council’s membership has voted to adopt the next version of its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system.

The new update, LEEDv4, will launch this fall at USGBC’s annual Greenbuild convention. It has been expanded to include more building sectors, such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers.

Another LEED v4 change includes allocating about 20% of all points to optimizing energy performance over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010.

Minneapolis – Today and tomorrow, Best Buy is running a special promotion where consumers can bring in a working iPad 2 or third-generation iPad and receive a gift card worth $200 or more depending on model and condition of the iPad. As reported by All Things D, returns must be performed at a Best Buy store location and the gift card will be good for in-store or online Best Buy purchases.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Specialty beauty retailer Sephora is turning to Duncan/Channon to design the website for its new Marc Jacobs Beauty collection. The site goes live Aug. 9, following the launch of a teaser site, likewise designed by Duncan/Channon.