Mass Merchant

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is beginning to see cautious increases over last year again, ending a summer-long downturn as retailers prepare for the holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

New York City -- Robert Tacker, former chief marketing officer at Target, has been appointed executive director for Adopt-A-Classroom, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting teachers and ensuring all children have equal access to quality education.

Thacker joins the group following four decades in marketing and advertising at OfficeMax, Target and Sears and as former President and CEO of BBDO Minneapolis.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores has named Trey Johnson to the newly created position of senior VP – food.

Johnson comes to Family Dollar from Sears Holdings where he created a limited assortment food concept for K-Mart. He also led the development of Wal-Mart’s Marketside format as its chief merchandising officer.
 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it will offer an exclusive edition of Tony Bennett's next studio album, "Duets II." The deluxe edition of the album will be available at Target stores and at Target.com beginning Sept. 20. Target previously partnered with Bennett in 2006 for his album "Duets An American Classic." 

“I celebrated my 85th birthday in August and the celebration is continuing with this special gift to my fans,” said Bennett. “I hope they enjoy the extra songs found only at Target.”

New York City -- The International Council of Shopping Centers said it expects holiday sales to increase 3% this year, which is below the 4.1% gain in 2010.

Holiday sales are expected to reach $250.2 billion, the highest since the 2007 peak, when spending totaled $251.7 billion, according to the group, whose forecast is among the first to come out for the holiday 2011 shopping season.

The ICSC predicted that holiday same-store sales will rise 3.5%, slightly lower than the 3.8% pace in 2010.

New York City -- Costco Wholesale Corp won a federal appeals court decision that blocks women who accused the company of gender bias from suing as a group. Although the ruling overturns a judge’s decision to expand a suit filed by three women to include hundreds of female workers, the court left open the possibility that the case could again be brought as a class action.

Seattle -- Nordstrom opened the doors to its newest store, in Nashville, Tenn.

The 149,000-sq.-ft. store is located in The Mall at Green Hills.
 

Lenexa, Kan. -- Retail Group of America, owner of Strasburg Children stores, has announced the appointment of Joanna B. Shawver as VP real estate. She will lead the company’s real estate expansion strategy in the United States.

Shawver brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience to her new role, with specialties in tenant representation and shopping center leasing. Most recently, she was VP leasing with RED Development, a Kansas City and Phoenix-based real estate development firm.
 

New York City -- Centro Properties Group US announced the recent lease executions of two Citi Trends locations. A 13,500-sq.-ft. lease has been executed at Lehigh Shopping Center, in Bethlehem, Pa., and a 12,000-sq.-ft. location will open at Kline Plaza, located in Harrisburg, Pa.

Both Lehigh Shopping Center and Kline Plaza are owned by Centro Properties, based in New York City.
 

BRISBANE, Calif. — Wal-Mart Stores marked a major investment in social media and marketing with the announcement Wednesday that its technology unit @WalmartLabs has acquired mobile and social advertising firm OneRiot.