Retail

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is kicking it old school this back-to-school season with its latest viral ad campaign, which features “yo momma” jokes. The campaign follows closely on the heels of the retailer’s similarly irreverent "Ship My Pants" and "Big Gas Savings" campaigns.

Kansas City -- A new study of the millennial generation shows that many 25- to 34-year-old shoppers change their purchasing habits and behaviors after they start their families.

More of a mass market future could be in the cards for the Oreck Corporation following acquisition of its assets this week by TTI Group’s Royal Appliance subsidiary, which manufactures well known home improvement and housewares brands.

Oreck filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and this week the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee approved the sale of its assets to Royal Appliance for a little more than $17 million and the assumption of certain debt obligations.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation penned a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, asking Congress to pass a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate.  

The impending House vote follows the Administration’s announcement earlier this month of a one-year delay of the employer mandate provisions.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Brewsters Burger Bar and Chiro One Wellness Centers have leased space in the Fort Worth mixed-use development of West 7th, according to Cypress Equities, the property’s developer.

Brewsters Burger Bar will open a 2,969-sq.-ft. location in December of this year.

Chiro One Wellness Centers will open a 2,563-sq.-ft. location in fourth quarter 2013. It will be the tenth Chiro One in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

South Deerfield, Mass. -- The Yankee Candle Co. has appointed Chris Kelly as general manager, Canada, charged with overseeing all aspects of the Yankee Candle business in Canada.  

Minneapolis -- Retailer promotion activity continued to grow with a 21.6% increase to more than 11.3 billion pages in the first half of 2013, with Walmart leading in retailer activity, according to Kantar Media’s Marx report. Following on Walmart’s heels were Walgreens, Target and Family Dollar.

Dick's Sporting Goods plans to open its first Field & Stream branded store this August in Cranberry Township, Pa., as part of the company's ongoing strategy to drive growth with speciality store concepts. The company also recently opened its first True Runner speciality store in its hometown of Pittsburgh.