Retail Marketing/In-Store

Global brand and retail design consultancy Fitch has appointed Alasdair Lennox as executive creative director in North America.

Retail design firm Chute Gerdeman has been acquired by FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding) Chicago, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.   The Columbus, Ohio-based Chute Gerdeman will now align with FCB/RED, the company's retail and shopper marketing division, to deliver full omnichannel retail marketing and connected physical branded experiences.  

Global retail and brand consultancy Fitch has appointed Andy Barlow creative director.     Barlow will relocate from the U.K. to lead multi-disciplinary creative teams, and work closely with the leadership across North America to grow and broaden the region’s offer. With over 25 years of design experience, agency and client side, Barlow has worked with Tesco, Harrods, and Amazon among others.

Empire Outlets, the outlet center taking shape on the Staten Island side of the Staten Island Ferry, has turned to Manhattan and Holly Nichols to help promote the center.   Nichols’s illustrations have guided campaigns for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman-Marcus, not to mention New York and Boston Fashion Weeks. Her work has 600,000 followers on Instagram, and originals sell to collectors on Etsy.  

Big Lots is looking to attract shoppers with more than deep discounts.   The retailer is working with Big Red Rooster, Columbus, Ohio, and Alloy, Westerville, Ohio, to develop a store of the future, according to a report in The Columbus Dispatch.  

CallisonRTKL is expanding the services it offers to retailers around the world.    The company is adding visual merchandising services to its current lineup of retail services, which include architecture, store planning and design, brand strategy and environmental graphic design.    “Visual Merchandising is more important than ever in the retail environment,” said Ignaz Gorischek, VP, CallisonRTKL, who will lead the visual merchandising team.     

With the addition of Jembro Stores and Cricket Wireless, Saddle Brook Square – in Saddle Brook, New Jersey – has reached full occupancy, according to brokerage firm Ripco Real Estate, which has led the leasing efforts.   The 221,892-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Walmart, TJ Maxx, Modell’s, and 24 Hour Fitness. Jembro Stores, a regional discount retailer, will occupy 5,280 sq. ft. adjacent to TJ Maxx. Cricket Wireless occupies 2,100 sq. ft.  

More and more retailers are looking to make their stores more than just destinations to shop.   In a trend that is gaining increased momentum, retailers across the board are adding bars and eateries to their stores, USA Today reported.