Events

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.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is offering skin health screenings to customers on May 14 as part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

 Sam's Club shoppers will offer skin assessments, which will be conducted by U.S. Wellness, to both members and non-members. U.S. Wellness will conduct DermaScan skin tests, which use Type A ultraviolet light to show sun damage that is invisible to the naked human eye. The retailer added that it will offer free DermaScan skin tests to the first 100 participants who sign up in each club.

Greenville, S.C. -- Seattle-based Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) announced it will open its first store in South Carolina this fall, in Greenville.

The one-story, 22,000-sq.-ft. store will also feature a community space for REI and its local partners to hold outdoor-related classes, presentations and events.

Some 115 Simon Property Group malls from coast to coast will celebrate Mother’s Day on May 6, when the nation’s largest mall owner hosts “National Mom's Nite Out.”

While the activities vary across the Simon portfolio of properties, the common theme is to indulge mothers with mini-massages, style presentations, food and beverage sampling, and other networking activities. The event is free for moms of all ages.

Troy, Mich. -- Oakland Mall is using social networking as a tool to get shoppers involved this Mother's Day to benefit Moms at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), a non-profit agency dedicated to assisting the homeless and getting them back on their feet.

PITTSBURGH -- KidsVoice, an organization which advocates for abused, neglected and at-risk children, announced that American Eagle Outfitters will be the presenting sponsor for its events during Child Abuse Prevention Month, which include Kitetails & Cocktails on April 28 and Kites for Kids on April 30. Both events will take place at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

One creative child will win a $5,000 scholarship!

LAKELAND, Fla. -- In recognition of Earth Day, Publix Super Markets announced that it will donate 50 cents per lb., (up to $40,000), to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership when customers purchase any wild domestic shrimp between April 17 to 27.

According to the company, the Publix donation would assist SFP in providing fisheries along the Gulf with the resources and tools needed to operate in a more sustainable manner.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Lowe’s announced that it is celebrating Earth Day by giving away trees. On April 23, Lowe’s, in partnership with American Forests, will give away one million tree saplings to customers during in-store Earth Day celebrations nationwide. When planted, these one million trees will eventually produce more than 260,000,000 pounds of oxygen annually, providing air for more than 670,000 people for one year, according to the company.

Oxnard, Calif. -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Wet Seal has opened a 6,000-sq.-ft. store at Esplanade Shopping Center, located in Oxnard, Calif. 

The new store celebrated its grand opening on April 16.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Esplanade Shopping Center.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Office Depot announced that, from April 17 through April 23, it is inviting customers to trade in their used writing instruments regardless of brand to any of its retail stores nationwide. In exchange for ten pens, pencils or markers, customers will receive a coupon toward a new product from Newell Rubbermaid Office Products. The collected instruments will be sent to TerraCycle to be turned into new office supply products ranging from trash cans to desk organizers.