News

Michaels is offering a free, interactive “Just Add Wishes” DIY site to help consumers with holiday needs. From Nov. 11 through Dec. 24, kids can interact with a live elf through streaming video.

After hours, kids can play games and build wish lists that parents can share on Facebook. On Christmas Eve, the site becomes a Santa Tracker, including a Santa locator, behind-the-scenes information from the North Pole control tower and the Santa Cam, where kids get to see Santa at work putting presents under trees and filling stockings.

Talk about an appropriate spokesperson. Monster, a leading manufacturer of headphones and personal audio equipment, has enlisted retired basketball superstar Dr. Shaquille O'Neal to endorse the company’s products across multiple categories.

"I am excited that we are collaborating with Shaq to market Monster's products. His bigger than life personality, coupled with his keen marketing experience and sense is a great fit for the Monster brand," said head ‘Monster’ " Noel Lee.

Tommy Bahama has entered into an agreement with the National Football League to create an officially licensed collection of premium lifestyle apparel. This collaboration will yield a distinctive series of highly focused Tommy Bahama lifestyle apparel custom designed solely for the NFL.

Lover.ly, a wedding inspiration and shopping site, has appointed founder of Nordstrom.com Bob Schwartz as the company’s first chairman.

As chairman, Schwartz will work closely with founder and CEO Kellee Khalil and the Lover.ly executive team to help shape the company’s long-term strategic growth, business and partnership development, capital strategy and build out Lover.ly’s brand and product pipelines.

Nike has promoted Scott LeClair, currently the brand’s VP and GM of Nike Skate and Nike Snow, to the position of VP of action sports. He will be responsible for leading the category as well as for Hurley International.

He replaces Nike veteran Roger Wyett, who has decided to retire according to the company.

Chelmsford, Mass. -- It only take an average of 2.2 negative experiences for  Americans to stop purchasing from a retail brand -- across any channel, according to a new survey commissioned by Kronos Inc. Underscoring the urgency of a seamless omni-channel experience, 68% of Americans agree that a negative shopping experience within a single channel negatively impacts their perception across all shopping channels including physical stores, online, mobile, phone centers, and catalog.

Port Washington, Wis. -- Upscale men’s shoemaker Allen Edmonds Corp. has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Brentwood Associates, a Los Angeles based private equity firm. Terms of the transaction weren't immediately disclosed.

Brentwood will take over the company from Minneapolis-based Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison, which bought Allen Edmonds in 2006.

New York -- Patagonia has selected 7thonline, a New York-based omni-channel merchandise and assortment management solution provider to help the retailer better match production supply with dynamic market demand to drive greater customer satisfaction and increased profitability.

Woonsocket, R.I. – CVS Caremark Corp. on Tuesday raised its profit forecast for the year on Tuesday, amid better-than-expected profit. Net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 3013, grew 25% to $1.25 billion, compared to $1 billion in the same quarter the prior year.

Net revenues rose 5.8% to $32 billion compared with the year-ago period.

Minneapolis -- Wireless Ronin Technologies has established a relationship with Denny’s Corp., and received an initial order from AAFES to install its RoninCast digital menu system at the Denny’s Fresh Express concept at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

The  Ronin’s solution will feature digital menu and promotional screens that display a streamlined menu for both Denny’s Fresh Express and Denny’s AllNighter concepts.