Cross-Merchandising

LIDS is celebrating 20 years of retail innovation with the launch of a new headwear line that will take customers back to the 1990s.

Available at select stores throughout North America and on LIDS.com, the 20th Anniversary Platinum Collection will feature a selection of limited edition (1,995 units) fashion hats inspired by popular designs from the past 20 years. The first style in the series, the Flawless cap, was originally launched in 2003 as part of a collection inspired by recording star Fred Durst of the band Limp Bizkit.

Target is flexing its marketing muscles with the introduction of a 39-minute workout regimen at Lifetime Fitness clubs to shape up sales of its proprietary C9 Champion activewear brand.

Seattle – Nordstrom came out on top in a study that ranked the social media performance of department stores by digital marketing analytics company Rival IQ. The Rival Results Index (RRI) for High-end Department Stores scored 12 department stores based on their social media performance during first quarter 2015. Macy’s followed Nordstrom in the overall rankings, with Harrods (London), Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman rounding out the top five.

H&M gave new meaning to the phrase “pop-up store” with a merchandising initiative at its Times Square location focused on conscious commerce.

The retailer, which operates 3,100 stores worldwide, chose the New York flagship location as the launch point for its H&M Conscious Exclusive Collection and the opening of its Conscious Pop-Up Store. On hand for the opening were actress Olivia Wilde and Barbara Burchfield of Conscious Commerce.

Meijer is incenting customers to make generous donations to hunger relief organizations by offering to double their contributions.

As part of the retailer’s Simply Give hunger relief program, plans call for Meijer to contribute $20 every time a customer donates $10 resulting in a combined $30 donation to local food pantries. The company conducts its Simply Given campaign three times a year. The Spring effort runs through May 7 but the generous matching offer is good April 17-18.

Despite not having any stores in or near St. Louis, Academy Sports + Outdoors has inked a multi-year brand building deal with the Cardinals that is sure to have fans of the popular hometown baseball team scratching their heads.

Jackson, Miss. – Newk’s Eatery is planning franchise growth in new markets stretching across the South. Expansion will occur in markets including Savannah, Georgia and Orlando, Florida, to Lubbock and Midland-Odessa, Texas, with Washington, D.C, Richmond and Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Oklahoma City in between.

Staples is getting into the “Shark Tank” to attract more small business owners to its stores by teaming up with ABC’s popular TV show.

The retailer will sponsor debut products from inventors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” television show and on Staples.com and in select Staples stores. The successful entrepreneurs behind the products will be featured during three episodes of ABC’s “Shark Tank” starting April 10.

Boston -- The Boston Marathon is getting its very own permanent store — and it will be located just steps from the finish line, on Boylston Street. The 2,000-sq.-ft. shop, dubbed Boston Marathon Run Base, is operated by athletic footwear giant Adidas and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), organizer of the Boston Marathon, in partnership with Marathon Sports.