Events

NEW YORK — The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association has announced that Adam Berg has joined as SVP membership and new business development.

Berg comes to LIMA following a lengthy career with Equity Management, a leading trademark licensing firm, where he most recently served as SVP licensing sales. Previously he worked in licensing sales for Hamilton Projects and held various new project development positions in the entertainment industry. 

Target and Macy’s get the nod from Citigroup retail analyst Deb Weinswig as top picks to fare well this back-to-school season. In contrast to last week’s NRF survey, which forecasts a slight decline in spending, Weinswig is of the opinion that this year broadline and drug retailers will have their strongest seasonal performance since 2006 thanks to new fashion trends, a favorable weather outlook, inflation and high-end consumer demand.

CHICAGO — About a week after announcing it would join First Lady Obama and other retailers in bringing more choices to so-called "food deserts", Walmart announced its official presence in Chicago today with the news that it has begun work on a new supercenter in Chatham. According to the company, the store will give more options to residents of Chicago's South Side neighborhood while at the same time creating approximately 400 jobs.

Chicago-based General Growth Properties is kicking off back-to-school shopping with two promotional programs – Shop til You Rock and Family Recess.

Shop Til You Rock, a music-inspired mall tour that empowers teens to look and feel like rock stars, is back for its second year. Teens are invited to watch live performances by some of today’s hottest bands, participate in exclusive activities and take advantage of special mall offers, prizes and sweepstakes, including a chance to win valuable shopping sprees and a gaming system.

Katy, Texas -- Houston-based developer Vista Equities Group reports a rise in lease activity and interest for its mixed-use town center development in Katy, Texas – LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. The remaining 3,100 sq. ft. of phase one retail space and almost 6,000 sq. ft. of existing office space has been leased.

New retailers include Another Round and Flip Flop Shop. Businesses relocating or adding locations in LaCenterra include Amerejuve Med Spa, Retina Consultants of Houston and Eventsia Group.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million announced the company has submitted a bid in the Borders Inc. bankruptcy proceedings to purchase, among other things, the inventory, fixtures, equipment, and leasehold interests for 30 Borders locations. Under the proposed bid, Books-A-Million will assume the leases for these locations and continue to operate these stores.

Borders Group on Thursday won court approval to liquidate its remaining 399 stores.

New York City -- Mike Boylson, formerly executive VP and CMO of J.C. Penney, has traded retailing for baseball. The 32-year J.C. Penney veteran, who officially stepped down from the company on July 1, and a friend are opening a franchise of D-Bat, a baseball and softball training academy, Advertising Age reported. The facility is due to open this fall.

J.C. Penney marketing chief Mike Boylson is trading the retail game for another type of game entirely: baseball. The 32-year J.C. Penney veteran officially left the company on July 1, and is already hard at work on his next venture: Boylson and a pal are opening a D-Bat baseball and softball training franchise in Allen, Texas, not far from J.C. Penney’s headquarters.

McKinney, Texas -- Blockbuster announced that it has assumed contracts with property owners nationwide and will maintain operations of more than 1,500 U.S. Blockbuster stores that would have closed under liquidation, as approved in a New York bankruptcy court this week. The chain also will retain more than 15,000 store employees.

WASHINGTON — NRF reported that total back-to-school spending on grades K to 12 is expected to reach $22.8 billion. According to NRF’s 2011 Back-to-School survey conducted by BIGresearch, families with children in grades K to 12 will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics, within a few dollars of last year’s $606.40 average.