Marketing Tactics

New York City -- Express will officially debut its new store design concept this month, in King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, Pa. The format was created by Masamichi Katayama, interior designer and principal of Japanese design firm Wonderwall.

The new environment features design elements of refined chic mixed with unconventional edge and forward-thinking composition to create an individual space with a definite sense of style. The same concept is scheduled to launch at Kenwood Towne Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, also this month.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that it has reached a license agreement with Dorcy International, which will allow Dorcy to sell DieHard-branded alkaline/rechargeable batteries and flashlights to retailers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Open-air shopping destination Santa Monica (Calif.) Place has launched a new gift card partnership to benefit local public schools. One dollar from the purchase fee for every Santa Monica Place Gift Card and GIVE Green Gift Card sold at the center will go to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has announced the winner of its "Tu Empresa, Tu Futuro/Your Company, Your Future Business" grant competition, which provides grants to Hispanic small business owners.

The four $5,000 grants were awarded to:

• Tayde Aburto, The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce

• Jennifer Burrell, The Frock Shop

• Elizabeth Tarpley, Targeted Tech Solutions

• Kristen Harris, Party Palette

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores has announced its creation of a “hurricane preparedness kit” in advance of what is expected to be an extremely active year.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Disney Consumer Products has created a new line of branded baby products, the first of which is an infant bodysuit made of 100% cotton. The Disney "Cuddly Bodysuit" comes with a second row of snaps that allow the bodysuit to “grow” with baby, available on Amazon.com/DisneyBaby this month and at select retailers this fall, the company reported.

San Francisco -- Luxury sales are expected to continue to increase through June, according to Kurt Salmon's Luxury Spending Trajectory. The proprietary index, which tracks high-income consumers' confidence and intent to spend, has been highly correlated with luxury same-store sales growth over the last five years.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.  — Leading footwear retailer Skechers USA has announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Street Flyers LLC to produce sporting goods and safety gear collections for children and young adults. Both collections are planned to launch in toy and mass market retailers throughout the United States and Canada in spring 2012.