Displays & Signs

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation found that 71.5% of Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, up from 68.6% last year and the most in NRF’s 10-year survey history.

The consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight also found the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $72.31 last year, with total Halloween spending expected to reach $8.0 billion.
 

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus is looking to build on its Cusp brand with the help of a fashion blogger. The company has launched a contest to find the perfect blogger that embodies the Cusp sensibility.

Neiman Marcus first launched the Cusp brand in 2006 with two freestanding stores that offered customers a contemporary assortment including apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories in a boutique environment.  The brand has grown over time to include a total of six Cusp stores, Cusp.com and integration into the forty-two Neiman Marcus stores.

Rochester, Minn. — Electric Friends, which produces animal-themed speakers for iPhone and iPod, will be available in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide beginning Sept. 28, featured as an end cap throughout the holiday season.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Just Born has introduced new Halloween-themed candies under its Peeps and Mike and Ike brands.

New Peeps snack size mini marshmallow chicks are 34 individually wrapped treats adorned in orange, green and purple. The new Mike and Ike Mummy's Mix limited-edition flavor mix, packaged in a 5-oz. theater box, includes lemon, orange, grape, lime and raspberry flavors. What's more, the new Mike and Ike variety bag features Mike and Ike original fruits, RedRageous! and Zours flavors, and is available in both 40-count and 63-count sizes.

BALTIMORE — Sprout Foods is adding new toddler puree snacks to its portfolio and also will introduce more convenient product packaging, the company announced at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore.

By Kevin Kulinowski, Robert Grosskopf and Rick Edwards, Gordon Brothers Group

The defining paradox of our industry is that closing stores has become a trademark of successful retail companies. Certainly healthy retailers are opening new stores; but shuttering locations has become the norm as well and, in most instances, is equally indicative of positive growth.

New York -- Disney has joined the roster of brands that will be setting up shop in J.C. Penney Co., with Disney children’s boutiques opening in Penney stores next fall, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

The in-store boutiques will feature products designed and sourced by Disney Consumer Products exclusively for J.C. Penney’s as well as Disney stores and theme parts, according to the report.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us revealed its 2012 hot toys list Wednesday, but not before Walmart did the same, giving the discounter a head start and the opportunity to poke fun at the toy retailer's earlier announced toy reservation program.