Retail

Build-A-Bear Workshop has named Gina Collins as chief marketing officer and brand bear. Collins will lead the company’s marketing, public relations, entertainment and creative teams to drive sales growth and profitability.

She will also be responsible for branding, marketing, public relations, creative, licensing and corporate sales and will report to CEO Sharon John.

Seattle – Amazon.com has reportedly obtained a patent for “anticipatory shipping,” or a logistics technique using customer behavior and history to prepare items for shipping before they are actually ordered. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon received the patent in December 2013.

New York -- Why do dark horse companies win -- and how do they win?

That topic is the focus of a new book by sales strategist and Elevation Forum founder Dan Mack: “Dark Horse: How Challenger Companies Rise to Prominence.” 

The best leaders and companies bring more than unique products or services to the market -- they consistently tap into the 10 key growth enablers Mack outlines in his book.

New York -- Mexico's Grupo Gigante expects to raise up to 4.954 billion pesos ($374.14 million) in its initial public offering of Office Depot de Mexico shares, Reuters reported.

The company plans to sell up to 291 million shares, local filings revealed.

The listing is provisionally set to price on Feb. 5, the report said.

In June, Grupo Gigante, acquired the 50% stake in the office supplies chain that it did not already own.
 

Upland, Calif. — NewMark Merrill Companies has announced that Waba Grill will open in February at Upland Town Square in Upland, Calif. The restaurant signed a 10-year lease for approximately 2,008 sq. ft. of space near O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. Voit Real Estate Services represented Waba Grill.

NewMark Merrill manages Upland Town Square, which is owned by the company’s president and CEO Sandy Sigal.

Now that we know the two teams that are heading to Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday, Feb. 2, Gillette is offering a chance for football fans to score last-minute tickets to the big game via Twitter.

Linebacker Clay Matthews will announce one winner each day via his personal Twitter handle, @ClayMatthews52 between now and Jan. 24.

Covington, La. — JCH Development and Stirling Properties have broken ground on Magnolia Marketplace, a 106,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in New Orleans, at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Toledano Street.

Altoona, Pa. — Sheetz Convenience Restaurants has opened two new locations in North Carolina. One is a 6,400-sq.-ft. store in Goldsboro, featuring a drive-through window, inside seating and a large shopping area. It will be the 59th Sheetz in the state.

The second store will open in Elkin, bringing the total number of North Carolina stores to 60.