Sales & Marketing

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic Inc. said that its CEO, Lisa Harper, 52, has also been named its board chairwoman.

Former chairman Bruce Quinnell will stay on as chairman of the audit committee, but he will not seek re-election to the board when his term ends in June, the company said.

The company also said Matthew Drapkin was named lead director.
 

Beaverton, Ore. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that regional vitamin and supplement retailer Super Supplements has leased 4,165-sq.-ft. of space at Walker Center, located in Beaverton, Ore.

The new store is slated to open for business in spring 2012.
 
The 89,609-sq.-ft. shopping center features national retailers such as Massage Envy, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches.
 

Mandeville, La. -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties said that Coldwater Creek and Buckle have opened at Premier Centre, a 295,000-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored center in Mandeville, La.

Buckle’s 5,000-sq.-ft. store is its 11th location in Louisiana. Coldwater Creek’s 4,833-sq.-ft. store is its fifth in the state.

The low single-digit apparel-and-accessories comps increase Target reported in October put the company squarely in the middle of the pack with department store and specialty apparel competitors.

When a major mall wants to create a stir, adding a premier department store retailer such as Bloomingdale’s will usually do the trick.

In early November, Chicago-based General Growth Properties announced that it will add Bloomies as an anchor to its Glendale Galleria property, in Glendale, Calif. As well, said GGP, the center will undergo an expansive renovation, incorporating aesthetic updates to both the interior and exterior of the property.

NEW YORK — The ways in which the largest U.S. retail brands address the needs of their customers on Facebook and Twitter were unveiled last week in a white paper — Safeway and Sears topped charts; Costco, Kmart, Kroger and Walmart were found wanting, according to Conversocial, a software company that develops social media tools.

Atlanta -- Mobile commerce enabler Firethorn Mobile Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., and Brookstone announced Brookstone as its latest retail partner for its Swagg mobile application, which provides shoppers with mobile access to purchase digital gift cards. Mobile shoppers also can receive special offers and manage customer loyalty programs through the app. 

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax Friday announced that Ryan Vero, EVP and chief merchandising officer will be leaving the company effective Dec. 2. The company, which did not specify the reason for Vero's departure, said it has already started its search for a replacement. Michael Lewis, EVP and president of retail, will continue to provide oversight to the marketing and merchandising teams.