Cross-Merchandising

Charlotte, N.C. -- Harris Teeter is currently renovating two locations into a new concept called 201central, which will feature an extensive variety of wine, beer, specialty foods and other general merchandise items. The new format will also feature an array of specialty services, including in-store wine consultants, event coordination and catering as well as party rentals and educational classes focused on wine, beer and food pairings.
 

BOONE, Iowa — Dole Food Company partnered with Hy-Vee Food Stores to donate five salad bars to schools in the central Iowa area at the United Community School in Boone, Iowa. The salad bars were donated as a part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, which has donated more than 1,440 salad bars serving more than 720,000 children across the country.

New York -- Toys “R” Us’ holiday 2012 plans include a “hot toy” reservation program, free and expanded layaway services and offering more exclusive toys from branded manufacturers along with more proprietary products. The nation’s largest specialty toy retailer also will open 150 to 200 temporary locations for the holidays under the Toys “R” Us Express banner.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop has expanded its gas rewards programs to customers in New Jersey.

NEW YORK — Macy's is paying homage to the TV sitcom with its new, "What's in Store?" campaign.

The campaign, which debuted on Sept. 10, will consist of a series of comedic shorts featuring new Macy’s Herald Square store manager, Harold, as he collides with the many stars and wacky situations that make the “World’s Largest Store” a haven for the fun and fashionable.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko has expanded its line of private brand consumable products with the introduction of approximately 70 new items.  The new products are available in stores now and include primarily health and beauty products and cleaning products.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced it has begun selling the trendy British fashion brand Topshop and Topman at 14 select Nordstrom stores across the country and on its website. Merchandise deliveries will be made on a weekly basis, with an expanded collection available online.

In addition, the Topshop make-up collection will launch in select stores and online in late 2012.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot will auction off items worn by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart to raise money for the Office Depot's National Backpack Program.

Through Sept. 14, fans can bid on an autographed firesuit and helmet worn by Stewart, driver of the No. 14I Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The auction is accessible via www.OfficeDepotRacing.com.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The trend of doing away with layaway fees continues, this time with Kmart announcing that it has removed its layaway service fee both in stores and online through Nov. 17.

The retailer follows suit with Toys"R"Us, which said it would drop the $5 upfront service fee and eliminate the minimum purchase requirement for all orders created in stores through Oct. 31 and Walmart, which, while not cutting back its layaway fee, has rolled it back to $5 from $15.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. announced Friday that it will open its first standalone store in Mexico, part of the retailer’s previously announced global expansion strategy.

The new store, to be located at Interlomas Mall outside Mexico City, expands on Gap’s store-in-store concepts in Liverpool Department stores in the region.