Events

The National Retail Federation has retained New York-based digital agency Rain to create digital shorts that launched last week on NRF’s industry campaign site, “This is Retail.”

Interview Day — a series of short, humorous videos — targets recent grads and young adults who are worn out competing for jobs in a challenging economy.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. has opened its 11,000 store, marking itself as the retailer with the most stores in the United States.

The st0re is located in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Dollar General said it anticipates opening 650 new stores in 2013. The company plans to create 6,000 new jobs in 2013.

Washington, D.C. -- Despite concerns over the government shutdown, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 9.1% in October over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. The numbers reflect merchandise ordered months before the shutdown as retailers planned for the holiday season.


Rogers, Ark. -- Walmart and Redman & Associates, a manufacturer of ride-on toys, announced that Redman will open a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Rogers, Ark., that will six-volt battery-powered ride-on toys featuring characters from popular Disney and Marvel franchises.

Denton, Texas — Cencor Realty Services has named Carrie Carter director of marketing for Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas. Carter’s new responsibilities include creating and executing the mall’s marketing, public relations, advertising and social media programs. She will also support the mall’s current renovation through the development of marketing, collateral and presentation materials.

Ahold USA-owned supermarket chain Giant Food Stores celebrated its 90th birthday.

The supermarket banner, which operates nearly 200 stores under the Giant and Martin's Food Markets brands in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, marked its anniversary Friday morning at a store in its hometown of Carlisle, Pa. Customers at all the company's 200 stores will receive free slices of cake and free apple slices Friday.

Leading “As Seen on TV” product producer TeleBrands took Marketer of the Year honors at the recent Electronic Retailing Association’s annual Moxie Awards.
In addition to top marketer accolades, the company’s Pocket Hose product was recognized as Best Short Form Infomercial.

New York -- While online retail sales continue to rise, regional malls continue to generate profits, according to an SNL Financial LC analysis.

The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2013 grew by 4.9% over the prior quarter to $64.8 billion, an 18.4% gain over the preceding 12 months. Still, e-commerce accounts for less than 6% of retail sales, according to SNL (www.snl.com).