Events

TUCSON, Ariz. — Safeway announced that it has formed a fund to aid the victims of the recent shooting that occurred in one of its Tucson stores.

The company launched the fund with an initial contribution of $100,000 from the Safeway Foundation, and encourages in-store contributions from Safeway customers and community members in the company’s Arizona stores.

Ontario, Calif. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced that Masa Liles has joined The Mills, a Simon Co., as area director of marketing for Ontario Mills, California’s largest outlet and value retail shopping destination, and The Block at Orange, an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination in southern California.

The Auburn Tigers will celebrate their BCS national championship win over the Oregon Ducks by having their trophy displayed at select Walmart stores. The crystal football known as the coaches’ trophy will be on display today at a Walmart store in Montgomery, Ala., then tomorrow at a Walmart in Columbus, Ga., and then finally Sunday at a store in the school’s hometown of Auburn, Ala.

The tour, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, gives fans the opportunity to view the trophy and even have their picture taken with it. 

Retailers at NRF’s convention this week got a citing of Bill Fields, a former Walmart executive who spent 25 years with the company serving in various roles from 1971 to 1996. Today Fields is chairman of a group called China Horizon, a joint venture with the Chinese postal service charged with helping to develop retail and consumption in rural China, and it was the topic of China that Fields addressed during the super session: “Making the retail business dynamic,” sponsored by Microsoft.

Where Walmart goes consumer packaged goods companies follow, as is evident by the growing number of companies signing on or deepening their relationship with the FLW Outdoors fishing tournament sponsored by Walmart.

Sam's Club held an open house Jan. 11 to Jan. 13 to show its support for small businesses nationwide.

During the event, guests could take advantage of deals usually only afforded to members. For example, a HP G72 Notebook with 17.3” HP BrightView LED display, Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320 GB hard drive2 was being offered for $499 and a gallon ProForce Pine Cleaner and Deodorizer was going for $4.58.

NEW YORK - The retail industry descended upon the Javitz Center in New York City this week for the National Retail Federation’s 100th Big Show, and despite the tough economy, the general mood of the show was one of optimism and excitement. 

Addressing the packed auditorium before Monday’s super sessions, NRF president and CEO Matt Shay said. “There are very few organizations that enjoy the stature of retail, very few businesses that contribute more to the local economy.”

New York City -- Microsoft Corp. announced that Bill Gonzalez, general manager of its worldwide distribution and services sector, has been elected to the associate member advisory council for the board of directors of the National Retail Federation. The announcement was made at the NRF Annual Convention & EXPO in New York.