Events

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation reported Thursday that holiday sales edged NRF forecasts, rising 4.1% to $471.5 billion for the period.

NRF predicted 3.8% growth. Results exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples said Thursday it has appointed Kirk Saville as VP global communications, charged with overseeing Staples’ internal and corporate communications, marketing, public relations, community relations and corporate events.

Saville, who joins Staples from The Hershey Co. where he was VP corporate communications, will report to Steve Fund, Staples senior VP global marketing.
 

Hammond, La. -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced the addition of Cato and Bellagio Salon & Spa to its tenant lineup at Hammond Square Shopping Center, located in Hammond, La. 

Cato will open its second Hammond store in spring 2012 across from Merle Norman and Purse Bag Pattie’s. Bellagio Salon and Spa is slated to open its first location in March/April 2012 next door to Purse Bag Pattie’s. The new store is 2,554 sq. ft. and will offer full-service spa treatments.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports should be nearly flat during January compared with the same month last year, but significant year-over-year increases are expected this spring.

Roswell, Ga. -- PGA Tour Superstore plans to open a 60,000-sq.-ft. store in the Chicago area in late spring 2012, followed by an additional location in the area later in the year. The two Chicago metro stores will be the company’s first locations in the Midwest.

The first store will be located in Schaumburg at the site of the former Great Indoors store at Golf Road and Meacham Road near Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Chicagoland. The location of the second store will be announced at a later date.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has issued an open letter to President Obama urging him to call for action on initiatives that support a strong retail sector when he delivers his State of the Union address later this month. The letter was signed by Macy’s chairman, president and CEO Terry Lundgren, who chairs the NRF doard of directors, and NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.

New York City -- CM Design Studio announced that Tony Mancini has been appointed president of its Alex Cannon brand. The menswear brand is sold in shops at Lord & Taylor, Liverpool Mexico, and in better specialty stores nationwide.

The annual consumer electronics extravaganza known as CES gets underway in Las Vegas today, and in conjunction with the show’s kick off Market Research Solutions (MRS) is out with a new report that provides some unconventional insights into the 2011 holiday season and outlook for 2012.