Sales & Marketing

Tustin, Calif. -- Real estate brokerage firm Present Value Properties said Tuesday that Britt Nelson has joined the company as VP.

Previously founder and president of NewCity Development, Nelson was responsible for site selection, acquisition, and procurement of development projects. Other responsibilities included coordination of the overall development teams and municipal relations.

Nelson will be working with existing Present Value Properties' clients including Pizza Hut and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt franchisees.

In his newest column, Retail Rap with Jeff Green, Chain Store Age columnist Green examines the early uptick in medical users in retail centers and questions why the trend has apparently stalled.

Click here to read Green's column.

New York City -- Saks said Tuesday it will open a licensed Saks Fifth Avenue store in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in August 2012.

The full-line department store, which will tailor its merchandise to the region, will open in Esentai Shopping Mall, which is part of a new mixed-use development featuring residential, office and hospitality components.

The three-story, 91,000-sq.-ft. store will showcase a three-story-high, state-of-the-art digital video screen on the building’s facade. 

Plano, Texas -- Inland Western, based in Oak Brook, Ill., said that its Shops at Legacy, in Plano, Texas, has partnered with Smart Choice to launch a mobile personal shopping assistant app. The new app features product information, a customizable shopping experience and a “Men’s Corner,” which includes drink specials, sports game listings and gift ideas.

New York City -- Next-generation digital signage that uses the latest in holographic imaging and audio-visual technology to create the illusion of a real person is making its U.S. debut at Duane Reade’s new flagship in downtown Manhattan.

RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson has introduced Windex Mini, a concentrated refill pouch that uses 90% less plastic packaging than a traditional 26 fluid ounce trigger bottle.

According to SC Johnson, data shows U.S. consumers are not keen on refilling their household cleaning bottles and is hoping the launch of Windex Mini will help the company understand why that is the case.

LONDON  — Asda announced last week that Judith McKenna, the company's current finance director, is to take the reins as the retailer’s COO, effective September.

Judith, who joined Asda more than 15 years ago, has led Asda’s finance functions as CFO since 2001.

As COO she will take on leadership of all Asda’s retail operations, including its stores, distribution network and IT systems.

Last week Janney Montgomery Scott analyst David Strasser downgraded shares of Target to neutral from buy. He offered a litany of things that could go wrong with the Target story, which were subsequently refuted by someone named Will Ashworth on the website “Investopedia.”