Mass Merchant

NEW YORK — A new line of apparel, toy and specialty goods inspired by Nickelodeon's Dora Rocks! is now avaible exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com through April.

"We are excited to bring the Dora Rocks! experience to Target's guests," said Ron Johnson, SVP retail development, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. "Dora Rocks! extends the interactivity kids and parents have come to expect from the show, bringing Dora into their homes with specially designed products."

Items available exclusively at Target include:

Bryn Mawr, Pa. -- WP Realty and Angelo, Gordon & Co. announced Tuesday the sale of Fairlawn Town Centre located in Fairlawn, Ohio.
 
Fairlawn is located just west of Akron; Fairlawn Town Centre is a 447,037-sq.-ft. community shopping center anchored by Giant Eagle, Target (separately owned), Home Goods, Pet Supplies Plus, Ashley Furniture and Marc’s. In-line retail tenants include U.S. Post Office, Chuck E. Cheese, Panera Bread, GNC, Subway and RadioShack.

TORONTO — Canadian consumers eager to get their hands on a Target loyalty card can now apply for one. Target Canada announced that pplications for its REDcard products - the Target Debit Card and the Target RBC‡ MasterCard - are now available online at Target.ca/redcard. Guests planning to shop at Target stores in Canada with a REDcard will receive an additional 5% off Target's already low prices, applied instantly at the time of purchase.

New York -- Fidelity, the Boston-based investment firm, has bought a 10% stake in C. Wonder, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Founded by Christopher Burch in 2011, the company has since expanded to 10 locations and also operates pop-up stores.

Burch has big plans for C.Wonder, which sells a mix of apparel, accessories and home goods, all under its own label. According to previous reports, he plans to expand it to 50 to 100 stores by the end of 2014, including locations abroad.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The passage of comprehensive tax reform and a more level playing field between online retailers and Main Street retailers for sales tax collection top the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s public policy priorities for 2013.

According to RILA, the retail industry pays among the highest domestic effective tax rates at 36.4% more than 10 percentage points higher than the average for all other industries.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has named Sam Duncan president and CEO.

NEW YORK — Iconix Brand Group has gained a controlling stake of the apparel brand, Buffalo David Bitton from Buffalo International.

Iconix now owns 51% of the brand and as part of the deal, formed a new joint venture company with Buffalo International. Iconix will control this joint venture and consolidate its results.  Buffalo International will be the core licensee for the new joint venture.

New York -- OfficeMax has become the latest retailer with a smaller-store, urban format either open or in the wings.
 
The retailer will unveil its smaller concept sometime in 2013, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. The new format will range between 5,000 sq. ft. and 15,000 sq. ft., the report said.