Transform SR Brands LLC

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. and WAYNE, N.J. — While most consumers have barely started making Halloween plans, the retail industry is looking ahead to the holiday season and predicting what they think will be the most popular toys this year.

Toys“R”Us and Kmart both announced their top toy lists for the holiday season detailed below:

Toys"R"Us

1. Air Hogs Hyper Actives from Spin Master

2. Air Swimmers eXtreme from Animal Planet

New York City -- Robert Tacker, former chief marketing officer at Target, has been appointed executive director for Adopt-A-Classroom, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting teachers and ensuring all children have equal access to quality education.

Thacker joins the group following four decades in marketing and advertising at OfficeMax, Target and Sears and as former President and CEO of BBDO Minneapolis.

Toronto -- Katz Group Canada has announced the retirement of industry veteran Andy Giancamilli as CEO, effective Feb. 2, 2012.  Katz is Canada’s largest integrated pharmacy network, operating more than 1,800 chain, franchise and independent pharmacies,

Giancamilli will remain in an advisory role until May 2012. He will be succeeded by Frank Scorpiniti, who joined the company in April as COO.

Giancamilli came to Katz after serving as executive VP at Canadian Tire. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Kmart.
 

Chicago -- Urban Retail Properties, LLC said it has been awarded the contract by Garrison Investment Group to provide management and leasing services for four regional shopping centers, effective immediately.

Urban will assume third-party responsibilities for Chapel Hills Mall (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Central Mall (Salina, Kan.), Decatur Mall (Decatur, Ala.) and Lakeshore Mall (Gainesville, Ga.).

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that it is launching the Latina Smart Fund in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Promoted through Kmart's Latina Smart Facebook page, the Latina Smart Fund will award $25,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and/or students currently enrolled in college, technical or trade schools.   

Fashion newness is all around this fall with interesting merchandising initiatives pitting designers, celebrities and retailers against one another to determine which approach will resonate strongest with consumers.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that former UPS executive Raj Penkar is joining the company as SVP and president of the company's supply chain.

In his new role, Penkar will be accountable for all aspects of the company's supply chain, including logistics, warehousing, inventory management and distribution. Prior to joining Sears, Penkar worked at UPS for 24 years and most recently served as president of UPS' customer solutions division.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores will introduce a holiday layaway plan effective Oct. 17 through Dec. 16. The program has a minimum layaway purchase of $50, and requires a 10% down payment. If the program is successful, Wal-Mart said it may extend it throughout the year.

When Wal-Mart phased out its previous layaway offer in September 2006, such programs had fallen out of popularity. But Sears and some merchants brought back layaways as the recession cut into spending.