Sales & Marketing

Atlanta - Spanx, the fast-growing dollar undergarment and apparel company, will open a custom designed, expanded company headquarters and a flagship store in Buckhead Atlanta, a major mixed-use project in the heart of the area’s business district. (The project, now under construction, was initially called Streets of Buckhead.)

The headquarters will occupy three floors, a rooftop garden terrace and additional balconies. Spanx is anticipated to move in November 2014.

WTI expects that retail July 2013 will be cooler than last year’s scorching hot July. Despite cooler trends, it is still summer, and there will be some periods of hot weather around the 13th and 26th. The West will start the month off hot leading to stronger demand for hot weather categories like cold beverages, ice cream, pool supplies and air conditioners/fans. Much cooler temperatures and wetter weather in the Central U.S. will lift demand for school apparel.

Chicago - Belk, the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company, was honored as Innovator of the Year at the 2013 Oracle Retail Excellence Awards. The award recipients were announced at Oracle’s annual Oracle Retail CrossTalk customer event, held June 25 to 27 in Chicago.

Other Oracle award winners included the British department store company John Lewis plc for Outstanding Customer Experience, and Deckers Outdoor, the footwear company,  for Outstanding Business Performance.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Finish Line's current president and COO Steve Schneider has announced his plans to retire after 24 years with the company.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holdings on Friday joined the growing list of retailers and other companies severing ties with Southern celebrity chef Paula Deen in the wake of the controversy regarding her use of a racial slur. Both Sears and Kmart sold Paula Deen products.

“After careful consideration of all available information, we have made the decision to phase out all products tied to the brand,” Sears said in a statement. “We will continue to evaluate the situation. Our members’ needs will be given first priority.’

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands' board is going to see some changes, following Hugh Rovit's announcement that he will not be seeking re-election as a director at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Sunnyvale, Calif. – David’s Cookies competes in a crowded marketplace and even encounters issues resulting from its own brand fragmentation. Trying to locate and convert leads around the world is understandably a huge marketing expense typically involving lots of time and travel. But since implementing the Ariba Discovery trading platform last year, David’s Cookies has found dozens of new clients with much less time, travel and expense.

NEW YORK — DC Comics' costumed superheroes are heading to PetSmart stores in July. The specialty pet retailer will debut an exclusive line of DC Comics-themed pet apparel and toys for dogs by Fetch for Pets.

The licensing partnership between Fetch for Pets and Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment features DC Comics characters such as Superman and Dynamic Duo Batman and Robin. Along with T-shirts, dresses and bandanas the line also includes ball bodies, teethers, bottle crunchers and plush figures.