Events

WASHINGTON — Ongoing economic challenges and high gas prices won’t put a dent in shoppers spending intentions this Father’s Day, according to new research from the National Retail Federation.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced Tuesday that it will celebrate the grand opening of its tenth Alabama store, which opened at Jubilee Square in Daphne, Ala.

The chain’s celebration, spanning June 3-5, will feature appearances by college and professional football players and a professional bass angler, as well as a variety of giveaways.
 

CLEVELAND — Glidden announced that on May 21 to 22 it will hold demonstrations at nearly 1,000 Walmart stores nationwide to showcase its exclusive ready-to-go paint testers with built-in brush attached to the lid. The two-ounce paint testers are available in all 306 colors in the Glidden Brilliance Collection palette. 

At Promenade Shops at Centerra, in Loveland, Colo., dog owners will attend the sixth annual Paws on the Promenade outdoor dog expo on May 21. Held in the Main Plaza of the shopping center, the event features dog-related vendors, contests, giveaways, entertainment and refreshments.

Colorado has long been known as a dog-friendly state, and the Promenade has leveraged the focus on dogs to forge a relationship with its customers and their pets.

Target is among the key sponsors of a Kids in Need Foundation event slated for this fall in Minneapolis. The company, along with fellow Minneapolis-based supplier 3M, is supporting the organization’s annual cocktail reception and fundraising dinner to be held September 21 at The Depot from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The guest speaker at the event is former OfficeMax chairman and CEO Sam Duncan.

Many Walmart shoppers happen to be NASCAR fans, so it makes sense that the retailer would host exclusive events around big races in key markets.

In Charlotte, N.C., and Dover, Del., select Walmart stores will offer customers the chance to check out racing simulator machines and stock car displays and enjoy special driver appearances throughout the month of May.

ISSAQUAH, Washington — Wedding season is here, and future brides who want to score a high-fashion gown, without spending their entire wedding budget, may soon be flocking to Costco. Beginning this month and continuing through August, select Costco stores throughout the country will hold special four-day trunk shows featuring the wedding gowns of designer Kirstie Kelly.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.  — Sears announced that it is launching its fourth annual Heroes at Home spring renovation campaign with Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership. Sears said that with the help of Rebuilding Together, it expects to renovate more than 300 homes across the country as part of the Heroes at Home program, which aims to improve American military families' lives by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes.

City of Commerce, Calif. -- Los Angeles outlet shopping mall Citadel Outlets has named a new marketing team.
       
Traci Markel has been named marketing director and Simone O’Connor has been named marketing and special events manager.  The Citadel marketing team also includes Veronica Garzaro, marketing and domestic tourism manager, and Kristina Carlson, international tourism sales manager.
       

The consulting firm Gravitytank named Bob Thacker as a strategic advisor to help the firm’s consumer electronics, retail, consumer packaged goods and technology clients. Thacker most recently served as SVP of marketing and advertising at OfficeMax and was with Target from 1989 to 1998 as a VP of marketing. He also served as president and CEO of BBDO in Minneapolis and served as an SVP of marketing at Sears.