Retail

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sears, a name that comes to mind when thinking of places to fix the car or shop for tools, will soon be associated with travel thanks to a new partnership with International Cruise & Excursions Inc. 

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores spent $1.49 million on lobbying in the third quarter on a wide range of issues including food safety, nutritional labeling and corporate tax reform, according to a recent disclosure report.

The total is the same as the $1.49 million the discounter spent in second quarter 2011.
 

NEW YORK — The Tommy Hilfiger Group announced that it has named Avery Baker as chief marketing officer, a newly created position, effective immediately. Baker has been with the company for 15 years, most recently in the position of EVP global communications and marketing. Baker will continue to report to Fred Gehring, CEO of The Tommy Hilfiger Group.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports should be up 0.3% in December compared with the same month last year as retailers head to the finish line of the holiday shopping season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

New York City -- Chain Store Age invites design firms, architects, retailers and suppliers to submit entries for its 30th annual Retail Store of the Year Design Competition. Eligible projects are those completed between November 2010 and December 2, 2011. Deadline for submission is December 20, 2011. Extensions are available.

Twenty-one competition categories are featured, ranging from supermarkets and discount/mass merchants to specialty stores and pop-up stores.

The commute into downtown Minneapolis should get a little easier in the coming years, as Target is set to relocate nearly 4,000 technology-related workers from its headquarters to a new office in the Northern suburb of Brooklyn Park.

According to the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, the transition of about 2,400 technology team members and 1,500 contract workers will begin next year. To read more, click here. 

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- Cross-channel shopping is the new norm: Fifty-four percent of consumers regularly employ two or more channels before they make a purchase, according to a new study by Oracle.
 
The report, “Cross-Channel Commerce: The Consumer View,” reveals that consumers expect a consistent experience across all channels. Nearly 20% expect to redeem the same coupons and promotions in stores and online.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that, in 50/50 partnership with Genting Berhad, it has opened Johor Premium Outlets, its first Premium Outlet Center in Southeast Asia.

The center encompasses 173,000 sq. ft. of GLA featuring 80 stores and is strategically located in Johor Bahur, Malaysia. A grand opening celebration will take place on December 11.