Cross-Merchandising

Atlanta -- Shapewear hosiery marketer Spanx has opened its first standalone location, a 1,200-sq.-ft. store in Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va.

"With a growing product collection and fan base, our own dedicated space was inevitable,” said Spanx CEO Laurie Ann Goldman.

Two additional stores are set to open this fall, in King of Prussia, Pa., and Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it will double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made Nov. 9 to 10 to help boost support for local food pantries before the holidays. The Double Match Days initiative is being launched as part of the retailer's Taste of the Holidays in-store sampling event as a way to thank customers for their continued commitment to help fight hunger in the Midwest.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores has announced that the Narciso Rodriguez for DesigNation collection will be available nationwide on Nov. 7 at 7 a.m.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro has provided $100,000 in combined grant support through the Hasbro Children’s Fund to the American Red Cross, World Vision and Feeding America to support their relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, over 10,000 games have been donated to shelters along the east coast.

Dodgeville, Wis. -- Canvas Lands' End is reinventing the pop-up concept by taking it online with the first-ever blog-up shop. The result is Arrivals, a virtual pop-up shop series curated by eight well-known fashion and lifestyle bloggers. Each shop will function as its own mini e-commerce site and will feature fall and holiday looks styled by the blogger in his or her unique style that readers can purchase.

City of Industry, Calif. -- On the heels of its Wednesday report that the company gained just 0.2% in October same-store sales, Hot Topic Inc. also announced plans to test a new store that will specialize in dark, edgy lingerie.

Called Blackheart, the concept will target the company’s core teen customer and will debut with five stores in southern California and Texas malls as well as online offerings beginning in mid-November.

Endcaps at Target stores are touting the retailer’s “Top Toys,” selections for the upcoming holiday season. Meanwhile, real estate on side panels is being used to appeal to shoppers with smart phones who are encouraged to scan a QR code to complete an order and receive free shipping.
 

By Peter Burgoyne, [email protected]

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. announced Friday it has unveiled a new store concept called GameStop Kids and will open 80 holiday stores in U.S. malls.

GameStop Kids stores will feature an assortment of the most popular video games and accessories, toy brands and collectibles, showcased in temporary mall spaces.

The first GameStop Kids location opened Friday at the Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas, with all other locations opening in the coming days and weeks, according to the company.

New York -- Consumers are expected to spend an average of $582 on holiday shopping this season, and 23% plan to spend more than $750, according to a survey by Accenture. And half of consumers (52%) expect to increase their spending by $250 or more.