Apparel

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Olympic gold medalists Dara Torres (swimming), Mia Hamm (soccer) and Lindsey Vonn (skiing) will star in Kohl's latest marketing campaign. Debuting on March 19, the new campaign titled “Shop to Win,” follows each of the three female athletes as they experience Kohl’s extensive fashion assortment, world-class brands and incredible value, the company said in a press release. It is the first time Kohl’s has used Olympic athletes in its marketing efforts.

LONDON — Walmart's U.K. subsidiary Asda is making it easier for brides to feel special on their wedding day by launching a new bridal lingerie line at its George stores. 

The retailer has a launched a four-piece "bridal inspired" collection that ranges from 11.50 to 16 GPB. According to Asda this is 1,639% cheaper than the most expensive alternative. 

Seattle -- Online diamond and fine jewelry retailer Blue Nile announced the appointment of Harvey Kanter as CEO and president, effective March 30. Kanter will also be appointed to Blue Nile's board of directors, effective March 30.

Prior to joining Blue Nile, Kanter served as president and chief executive of Moosejaw Mountaineering and Backcountry Travel, a multichannel retailer of premium outdoor apparel and gear. Before Moosejaw, he served as executive VP and managing director of Michaels Stores.

Toronto -- Sears Financial has launched an online points redemption system for its five million plus card members, making it one of the first major retail loyalty programs in Canada to do so.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores has signed a lease with General Growth Properties to open a Herberger’s in Pine Ridge Mall, Pocatello, Idaho.

Remodeling is expected to begin in April 2012 and be completed by the end of October 2012.

The Pine Ridge location will be the first store in Idaho for the company.
 

Zara, part of Spain’s Inditex Group, has opened its biggest U.S. location, a 32,000-sq.-ft., three-level flagship on a primo stretch of Manhattan real estate: Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street. The store is part of a 90,000-sq.-ft. retail condominium that also houses Hollister and Uniqlo flagships.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores was honored with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 Energy Star Award for Sustained Excellence at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes Kohl’s long-term commitment to protecting the environment through energy efficiency initiatives. Kohl’s was recognized by EPA in 2010 and 2011 as an Energy Star Partner of the Year, and in 2011 also became the first retailer to be named an EPA Green Power Partner of the Year for three consecutive years.

Austin, Texas -- Target Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp., Safeway, Gap Inc. and Whole Foods Market are among 15 retailers recognized on the Ethisphere Institute's 2012 "World's Most Ethical Companies" list. The other retailers honored were Starbucks Coffee Co., Patagonia, Wegmans, Marks and Spencer, Best Buy, eBay, Timberland, Office Max, Petco, and Ten Thousand Villages.

Newport Beach, Calif. -- K3 Retail, the U.K.’s largest provider of solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics, has formed an alliance with JustEnough Software, a leading provider of demand management solutions, to help retailers more effectively plan financials, assortments, markdowns, promotions and allocations with flexibility, accuracy and ease.

NEW YORK — Many companies can claim they have excellent customer services, but now Saks Inc. has the award to back that claim up. The company announced that it was recognized at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Orlando, Fla. on March 14 as a 2012 Customer Service Champion—one of only 50 companies to have earned this distinction this year.