News

Merrimack, N.H. – Brookstone has named Blue Wolf Communications as an agency for public relations, social media and event marketing.

The relationship launches with major initiatives for the 2014 holiday season, the announcement of high-profile spokespeople, the introduction of many new products, and high-impact events for fall and winter.

Warren, Mich. – Art Van Furniture is launching an omnichannel promotion in Detroit on Sept. 12 to celebrate the release of its 2014 fall catalog. Customers can take selfies or have a photo taken by celebrity photographer Nigel Barker on one of 55 sofas that will be placed outside the Art Van Furniture store on Woodward Avenue.

New York – Proximity marketing solutions provider Thinaire is introducing its new ActiveShopper digital-coupon-solution that lets brands and retailers deliver incentives to shoppers in the store. Thinaire has integrated loyalty rewards and coupon delivery into its cloud-based mobile engagement platform.

New York -- Mobile payments are likely to take a giant step forward with Apple’s unveiling of Apple Pay, a new mobile payment platform built into the company’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The platform will also work with the new Apple Watch, extending the service to over 200 million owners of iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s worldwide.

By Lea Elaine Green, Senior Content Strategist, Mozu

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. and Family Dollar Stores Inc. announced, as expected, they have received a second request for information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in connection with Dollar Tree's pending $8.5 billion deal to acquire Family Dollar.

Wayne, N.J. – Toys “R” Us on Tuesday announced several executive appointments. The retailer named Debbie Lentz as senior VP, chief supply chain officer, with responsibility for U.S. distribution and customs compliance, global importing and exporting, fleet operations and domestic transportation, reporting to Hank Mullany, president, Toys “R” Us, U.S.

New York -- Barnes & Noble Inc. on Tuesday reported a smaller-than-expected loss of $28.4 million in its fiscal first quarter, down from $87 million a share, a year earlier. The chain has been cutting spending in its Nook e-reader division and moving toward a spinoff of the business.

Revenue fell 7% to $1.24 billion, including a 5.3% drop at the company’s retail segment.

King of Prussia, Pa. -- Destination XL Group Inc. has successfully implemented eBay Enterprise ship-from store solution in more than 100 stores. An eBay Enterprise Dropship Manager client since 2012, the combined solutions give DXLG more than 200 fulfillment locations to expand product availability to its customers.

The cloud-based eBay Enterprise ship-from store module has been deployed across the Destination XL (DXL) and Rochester Clothing stores to provide more options and choices to DXLG’s diverse customer base.

Toronto -- Visual search platform Slyce Inc. and action sports retailer Tilly's announced the upcoming launch of "Tilly's Snap Shop." The service enables Tilly's shoppers to open the mobile website on their smartphone, snap photos of desired items within any of Tilly's seasonal collection catalogs, and purchase the item directly at the moment of impulse.

Tilly's Snap Shop will be accessible to customers viewing the company’s fall catalog which is due for circulation early next month.