Sales & Marketing

The number of planned store closures at Talbot’s was bumped to 110 units recently when the company reported disappointing first-quarter results and indicated most of the underperforming units would close during the second half of the year.

San Mateo, Calif. -- Keynote Systems, which provides Internet and mobile cloud monitoring, announced that BJ’s Wholesale Club is using various Keynote solutions for optimizing the performance of its website.

For the first phase of the project, Keynote ran peak load tests to ensure that all components of BJ’s site were fully prepared to handle expected usage before the site went live.

Hartford, Conn. -- RBS recently completed a $20 million senior credit facility for FM Global Holdings (FM Facility Maintenance). The proceeds will be used to provide working capital for growth and acquisition financing.

Pelham Manor, N.Y. -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said it has negotiated an 8,280-sq.-ft. lease for Five Below at Pelham Manor Shopping Center in Westchester County, N.Y.

The new store opened in April.

New York City -- Winick Realty Group LLC said that luxury luggage retailer Mitsosa Group has leased its second Manhattan location at 40 East 55th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

The 1,150-sq.-ft. store is expected to open in late summer or early fall, and will feature 35 feet of frontage on 55th Street.

According to Winick, the retailer is looking at other tourist-driven areas throughout Manhattan with plans to open three stores within the next 18 months.

DULUTH, Ga. — Delhaize America banners are getting the kiosk treatment.

NCR is adding more than 800 Blockbuster Express kiosks to Delhaize America supermarkets, including Food Lion, Bottom Dollar Food, Harveys and Reid's across 11 states.

Blockbuster Express kiosks will be located either inside or outside the stores and provide easy access to a wide selection of popular movies, starting at a promotional price of $1 per night per rental, NCR said.

St. Paul, Minn. -- Paster Enterprises announced Wednesday that six new tenants have been secured at the company’s projects throughout the Twin Cities area. 

New tenants include Massage Elements, V4U, Home Choice, Broadway Pizza, National Karate and United Family Medicine.

Sydney Rosen, former chairman of Rose Art Industries and a toy industry veteran, died on June 2 at the age of 94. 

Rosen's career in the toy industry began when he went to work for his father's company, Rosebud Art, following a medical discharge from the army. Rosen's father Isidor was an artist and lithographer by trade, creating children’s toys and arts and craft sets, games and puzzles, and eventually Sydney and his brother Irving took over the business themselves as Isidor retired.  Ultimately Rosen bought his brother’s share.