Retail

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack will start offering a tailored assortment of consumer electronics products in college stores operated by NACSCORP, a subsidiary of the National Association of College Stores, this fall. A five-year agreement will establish branded RadioShack sections within college stores that offer both branded and private label electronics products and accessories.

Through this arrangement, RadioShack will have direct access to customers of roughly 4,000 college stores around the country.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Interactive multichannel retailer HSNi has promoted Judy Schmeling to COO and CFO. Schmeling has served as HSNi's EVP and CFO since 2001. In her new role, she will be responsible for supply chain operations and customer care functions in addition to providing ongoing leadership for finance and information technology. 

Los Angeles -- The Kroger Co.  unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, Calif.

NEW YORK — International lifestyle brand Club Monaco is leveraging the power of social media to promote its fashion apparel and accessories. It has launched an interactive fashion lookbook on Tumblr. 

Club Monaco hopes to use the visually driven platform to expand its reach and entice consumers to see and share fashion looks months before they hit the stores. 

TOLEDO, Ohio — Hickory Farms, a leading provider of specialty foods and holiday food gifts, has made changes to its executive team.

The company has promoted VP of brand marketing Michael Holton to CMO. VP of supply chain Joe Loch has been promoted to VP of franchise and retail sales. Director of logistics Ty Hanline has been promoted to VP of supply chain. The company has also hired Davenport, Hanf & Company executive Joe Herman to be its interim CFO.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported increases in sales and income for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period a year earlier, despite cool weather that delayed spring shopping in key markets. Net income was $217 million, a 20% hike from $181 million in the year-ago period.  

While net income slightly beat analyst predictions, same-store sales rose 3.8%, short of the 4.3% expected by analysts. Net sales totaled $6.39 billion, up 4% from $6.14 billion in the year-ago period.

ST. LOUIS — SpongeBob and Patrick are heading to Build-A-Bear Workshop thanks to an agreement between the retailer and Nickelodeon. Beginning Friday, May 17, customers will be able to make their own SpongeBob and Patrick dolls at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores throughout North America and on the retailer’s e-commerce site for $23 apiece.  

SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom friends Sandy Cheeks and Gary the Snail will also be available as pre-stuffed minis for $10 each.

Boston -- The administration of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has agreed to allow the construction of a 4.5-acre complex called Fenway Center in the area around Fenway Park in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood. Developer John Rosenthal will pay $226 million in rental fees to build the development, which will include retail stores as well as homes and office buildings.

The development includes state-owned land as well as air rights over the Massachusetts Turnpike.