Events

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the U.S. Commerce Department said sales at U.S. retailers edged up 0.3% in January, less than the expected 0.5% to 0.6% increase, but still the seventh straight month of gains. A series of snow storms that hit much of the country throughout the month was cited as one of the factors for the weaker showing.

CINCINNATI — The former president and CEO of Ebay has returned to Procter & Gamble's board of directors, effective immediately.

Meg Whitman, who worked as a brand assistant for P&G after graduating from Harvard Business School, served on P&G's board from 2003 to 2008. During her career, Whitman served as president and CEO of eBay from 1998 until 2008. Whitman also ran for governor of California in the 2010 elections.

BURBANK, Calif. — Gearing up for the summer release of superhero flick Green Lantern, Warner Bros. Consumer Products is teaming up with licensee Mattel to help fans fight evil through a new branded toy line.

WBCP said Mattel will bring "Green Lantern" to life by producing the lineup, which includes:

• The Green Lantern Ring Blast jet figure and vehicle;

• The Green Lantern Battle Shifters figures;

• The Green Lantern Movie Masters figures; and

This coming Sunday will be a big weekend for brand impressions as the Target Bullseye takes to the track at the Daytona 500 on the hood of the Earnhardt Ganassi with Felix Sabates number 42 Target Chevrolet driven by Juan Pablo Montoya. The race is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Fox and kicks off a NASCAR season that will last until November. Montoya has been an average performer so far during the championship series known as the Spring Cup, but his chances of success and exposure for Target will be determined as much by luck as driving skill.

Wow! Did you catch Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards Sunday night? She received the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album just days after Target announced an exclusive deal that allows fans to download the first single of her new album, “Born This Way,” scheduled for release on May 23. Gaga fans were able to pre-order the new album beginning last Friday through Feb. 26 at www.Target.com/gaga. Target’s exclusive deluxe edition includes three additional studio songs and five remixes, and will be available at stores nationwide and on Target.com.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores named Cindy Davis as executive VP Global Consumer Insights. In the position, she will lead the newly created Global Customer Insights team, helping both Walmart and Sam's Club understand broad consumer trends, provide insight into customers' needs across the world and create advanced analytical tools to support the business.

Davis most recently served as executive VP membership, marketing and e-commerce at the Sam's Club warehouse store division. A successor in that role will be named at a later date, Wal-Mart said.

Paducah, Ky. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Charming Charlie will open a new fashion accessories store at Kentucky Oaks Mall, in Paducah, Ky.

The Houston-based retailer will open a 7,000-sq.-ft. store in late spring 2011. This will be the second Charming Charlie store in Kentucky, the first being located in the Lexington area.

New York City -- Abercrombie & Fitch’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City will be temporarily closed after a two-alarm fire last night damaged the building.

More than 25 units and 125 firefighters responded to the blaze, which began about 11 p.m. local time last night.

SALISBURY, N.C. — The Food Lion Family and Bloom has recognized Scott Brinson as the recipient of the 2010 store manager excellence award. Brinson, who is the store manager of Food Lion in Jacksonville, N.C., was selected from a group of seven other market/banner winners.

The store manager excellence awards are a key part of Food Lion Family's and Bloom's efforts to acknowledge the leadership role store managers play. Food Lion Family president Cathy Green Burns presented Brinson with the award earlier this week during the company's Leadership Summit.

New York City -- Borders Group may file for bankruptcy reorganization as early as Monday or Tuesday after failing to persuade publishers and others to go along with a plan to refinance the struggling chain's debt, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The retailer plans to initially close about 200 of its 674 stores, the report said, which cited unnamed sources.