Retail

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — For the second year in a row, Walmart Canada is holding its Great Big Toy Testing Event, which not only gets parents and their children into stores, but also showcases toys for the 2013 holiday season in a real-world holiday wish list catalog setting. 

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties has announced the acquisition of two Sears locations, one at CBL’s Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky., and the other at CoolSprings Galleria in Nashville. Sears will continue to operate in both locations until closing dates have been finalized.

“We have plans to redevelop and expand both buildings to create space for new high-end specialty stores and restaurants,” said Stephen Lebovitz, CBL’s president and CEO.
 

The Von Maur department store chain was founded 140 years ago and less than a month from now the company will open its 27th store in Coralville, Iowa.
 
The 80,000-sq.-ft. freestanding store will be located at the Iowa River Landing retail development and feature the company’s signature exterior entrance and resident ambience.

New York -- RadioShack Corporation has opened the first of the next generation of stores scheduled to roll out across the country and around the world over the next several months.

Digimarc Corporation, a digital solutions company, has added audio watermarking to its Digimarc Discover mobile engagement platform. An audio watermark is embedded in an audio signal and identifies ownership of copyright, so retailers and brands can differentiate Digimarc’s solution from competing technologies. 

Digimarc’s mobile engagement platform is designed to enable retailers and brands to simplify and enhance mobile consumer engagement, build brand loyalty and drive purchase opportunities from each component of their marketing campaigns. 

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 Inc. said Wednesday that the “go-shop” period that would have allowed it to be sold to an alternate buyer has expired, edging the specialty apparel and accessories chain closer to a deal with Apax Partners.
 
In May, Rue21 reached a deal to sell itself to Apax for nearly $1 billion; terms allowed the retailer to shop competing bids until July 2. Although 60 potential buyers were contacted, none submitted a competing bid to acquire the company.
 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is celebrating its inclusion in the summer comedy, “Grown Ups 2” by offering one Shop Your Way member a chance to be an extra in a future Sony Pictures Entertainment film.

Shop Your Way Members can enter the "Stars of Summer Sweepstakes" now through Sunday, July 21, for a chance to see themselves on the silver screen.

Meriden, Conn. – Vestis Retail Group, parent company of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS), has named James Petty as CEO effective July 8, 2013. Petty most recently served as president of retail stores for Cartier Inc. from 2007 to December 2012 and left the company after it relocated its retail group headquarters from Connecticut to Georgia. He also previously held executive positions at Limited Too and Gap Inc.