Marketing Tactics

Despite posting increases in consolidated net and comparable store sales, the Finish Line’s second-quarter results fell short of its expectations, thanks to softness in the specialty retailer’s basketball offering.

Despite the slowdown in basketball-related sales, the running-related sales increased in the mid-single digits, driven by casual and performance styles. Consolidated net sales were $466.9 million, an increase of 7.1% over the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 1.5%.

New York -- More than half of consumers will spend more for the Halloween holiday than they’ll spend for either Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, according to the 2014 Halloween Happenings Survey by Alliance Data Retail Services, which manages credit card programs.

Some highlights include:

• 67% of consumers buy Halloween candy that they like, in case they want to enjoy a few treats before the tricksters ring the bell.

San Diego -- Rubio’s Restaurants will redesign 60 of its restaurants in Southern California, with completion expected by the end of 2015. With more updates scheduled for 2016, the new and improved locations are slated to be a visual reflection of the fast-casual brand’s evolution and culinary progression.

Seattle -- REI will open a nearly 30,000-sq.-ft., two-level store in the Village at Westfield Topanga, Woodland Hills, California, in fall 2015.

"REI Topanga will join five other stores in serving more than 352,000 active REI members in the greater Los Angeles area. More than 62,000 active members reside within 15 miles of the new store.

New York -- Woolrich, the Pennsylvania-based outwear and lifestyle brand, has opened its first-ever freestanding store, in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. The move follows the recent opening of three Woolrich stores in Europe, including a store in Hamburg, Germany, and Prague.

Hhgregg plans to hire more than 450 home electronics and home appliances salespeople this holiday season to support its 228 stores.

Global confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate Mondelez International has promoted Dana Anderson to SVP and chief marketing officer.

Anderson will be accountable for the company's global portfolio of advertising, media and marketing partners and oversee the teams responsible for agency relations, brand equity, brand strategy, marketing capabilities, media and digital for the company's global and regional power brands.

Miller Lite is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Danny Trejo and Richard Rawlings by making a $10,000 contribution to the ¡Adelante! U.S. Education Leadership Fund. The two celebrities will go head to head during a friendly beer sales competition slated to take place before the start of the Sept. 28 Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Isaac Mizrahi has a new yarn collection called Craft, and Michaels will carry it exclusively beginning this fall.

From super chunky to shimmery chic metallic, the line includes four New York -inspired, trend-driven collections:

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and global sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future have launched a project to empower sustainability initiatives, Retail Horizons. The project is being launched ahead of the RILA 2014 Retail Sustainability Conference held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, in Minneapolis. Click here for a two-minute video on the program.