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The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a partnership between Ann Inc., parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, and Vital Voices Global Partnership to empower young women from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.  

Rakuten Marketing experienced strong results for the first quarter of 2014 across all of its digital marketing channels.

The company especially highlighted the double-digit growth that advertisers realized through its affiliate, mobile and search marketing technology and services. Additionally, the company signed several new advertisers throughout the quarter that were either new to Rakuten Marketing, or have expanded their existing investments with the company to include additional marketing channels.

Innovation can take many forms and in the case of Reynolds Bakeware that form is a new oval pan designed specifically for baking fish.

Not that fish couldn’t be baked in one of the brand’s various other square or rectangular shaped disposable pans, but the new oval model is purpose built for fish and part of the new Bakeware line introduced last year.

Waban, Mass. - The percentage of large organizations that have reached the two highest levels of customer experience maturity has grown from 6% in 2013 to 10% this year. During the same period, the percentage of companies in the lowest level of maturity has dropped from 40% to 31%, according to a new report from Temkin Group, “The State of Customer Experience Management 2014.”

Other findings include:

Television show host, actress and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne is spotting trends for PetSmart and its new line of creative grooming services, Pet Expressions and joining the specialty retailer’s omnichannel campaign.

The PetSmart salon touts its temporary, pet-safe chalking, stenciling and feathering services to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Long Island City, N.Y. – Calypso St. Barth Inc. has obtained a $17.5 million senior-secured credit facility from Salus Capital Partners LLC. The financing will be used to refinance its current lender, general corporate purposes and continued store growth.

“The Salus team has demonstrated a deep understanding of our business,” remarked David Stiffman, president and CFO of Calypso St. Barth. “The new facility with Salus provides us the ability to capitalize on our business momentum and execute our growth strategies.”

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said that its Fry's Marketplace store in Phoenix marks the 500th Kroger location to earn the Energy Star designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

Leading Midwestern retailer Shopko has reopened its garden centers and has reiterated its commitment to environmental sustainability as the world marks this year’s Earth Day.