Retailer Campaigns

Ontario, Calif. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced that Masa Liles has joined The Mills, a Simon Co., as area director of marketing for Ontario Mills, California’s largest outlet and value retail shopping destination, and The Block at Orange, an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination in southern California.

New York City -- Though Walmart's desire to enter New York City is nothing new, its latest push shows that attitudes toward the retailer opening stores in the Big Apple are changing -- in Walmart's favor.

The company recently launched WalmartNYC.com, a "community forum for customers, associates, stakeholders and public officials who want to learn more about Walmart as it continues to evaluate opportunities across the city," according to a company press release.

The Dec. 23 edition of SiteTalk referenced a recent survey, which found that driving responsible growth, in addition to protecting and building the brand, is a chief priority for retailers in 2011. We asked you, our readers, if that priority was consistent with your 2011 objectives. Here is what one reader had to say.

Where Walmart goes consumer packaged goods companies follow, as is evident by the growing number of companies signing on or deepening their relationship with the FLW Outdoors fishing tournament sponsored by Walmart.

Walmart Canada has a few years to get ready for the arrival of Target following yesterday’s major announcement that its arch rival would be heading north of the border via an acquisition. That is the same strategy Walmart employed all the way back in 1994 when it bought 122 former Woolco stores. Walmart now operates 323 stores in Canada, and by the time Target gets around to opening its first units in 2013 that figure will probably be closer to 400.

New York City -- Red Wing Shoe Co. plans to open 125 stores in the next five years, according to the Star Tribune.

The stores, all independently owned, will open mostly in the Northeast, in cities such as Philadelphia, where the Minnesota retailer doesn't have a strong presence.

Red Wing has about 425 U.S. stores, and about 70% are independently owned and operated.

The push into new markets represents about a 20% jump in new store growth, the company said.

Chicago -- Year-over-year retail sales rose a solid 4% for the 2010 holiday shopping season (November/December), according to ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate.

Conversely, total U.S. foot traffic fell slightly below expectations as consumers continued the pattern retailers saw throughout 2010 of fewer mall and individual store visits with a larger spend. ShopperTrak’s revised holiday forecast called for a 1.8% traffic increase.

Minneapolis -- Two leaders of Target have been appointed to the retailer's executive committee.

Tina Schiel, senior VP enterprise strategy and new business development, was promoted to executive VP stores and will join the executive committee, while Laysha Ward, who will retain her position as Target's community relations president and Target Foundation president, also will join the executive committee.