Events

NEW YORK  — Republican and Democrat retail executives both have something to look forward to in 2012 as former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are scheduled to speak at major industry events.

Clinton is first up at the National Retail Federation annual convention in New York on Jan.16, while Bush will serve as the keynote speaker at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. April 21 to 24. 

San Francisco -- The 15 cities with the most shopping activity on Black Friday 2011 were Manhattan, N.Y.; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Brooklyn, N.Y.; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Chicago; San Diego; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Saint Louis;  Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Minneapolis, according to mint.com, an online personal finance site.

Philadelphia -- Simon Property Group announced Tuesday plans to unify the two main shopping venues of King of Prussia Mall, in King of Prussia, Pa., expanding one of America's most productive and iconic retail destinations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Frederik Meijer, the founder of the supercenter retail chain of the same name, died Nov. 25. He was 91.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 31 surged 63% to $89.7 million, compared with $55.1 million in the year-ago period. Strong global sales propelled the strong performance, but the jeweler cautioned that fourth quarter earnings, which include the key holiday selling season, could fall below expectations.

Revenue rose 21% to $821.8 million from $681.7 million a year ago, handily beating Wall Street’s expected $801.8 million in revenue.

New York -- The retail industry experienced a weekend that was a roaring success in terms of customer traffic, sales and another key metric that was overlooked: No one died! At least not in the gruesome fashion of a few years ago when a Walmart employee was trampled by an unruly mob as he opened the doors at a Long Island, NY, store on Black Friday. There was an incident this year involving an older man who collapsed at a Target store in West Virginia and later died at a hospital, but it was determined he had a pre-existing heart condition.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group said Tuesday it has signed agreements to develop 25 new Dunkin' Donuts and two Baskin-Robbins in Louisiana over the next several years.

Cities targeted for development include Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans.

"The state of Louisiana has been a priority growth market for Dunkin' Brands in 2011 and we're excited to expand our footprint in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans," said Grant Benson, VP franchising and market planning, Dunkin' Brands.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will donate $5 million to local schools nationwide as part of the company's commitment to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.