News

Chicago-based True Value Co. showed its true colors -- and legacy when it comes to producing and selling paint -- on Monday during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The company erected a 40-foot-tall True Value paint stick and stuck it in the water on the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue. The paint stick stunt was conceived by MARC USA Chicago to leverage True Value’s first time as a sponsor of the annual event. The paint stick will be embossed with the line, “The Value Of The Perfect Color.”

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is launching the #NookReadingStyle sweepstakes, designed to inspire book lovers to share their reading style on their Facebook pages and other social media channels. From March 16-31, participants can enter for a chance to win prizes including Nook e-readers and Barnes & Noble gift cards by completing the sweepstakes entry form on the Nook Facebook page.

Chris Allan was a co-founder of Quantum Retail Technology and now he is the company’s CEO too.

Allan rejoined Quantum, a provider of merchandise optimization and inventory solutions, in late 2014 to lead the company’s retail development and delivery organizations. He will maintain that role in addition to serving as CEO.

Menlo Park, Calif. – Facebook has purchased personalized shopping engine TheFind.com, with the intent of making its ad more relevant to individual users. The social media giant will integrate TheFind’s functionality into its personalized ad-matching capability, rather than keep TheFind operating as a separate entity.

In a message on its homepage, TheFind said some employees will make the transition to Facebook.

Boston – Omnichannel beer/wine/liquor delivery service Drizly is relaunching its mobile app, website and branding. New features of the site and app include ratings, reviews and rich media content; storable “favorite” orders and address books; smart searches that deliver results as users type; and the ability to share Drizly with friends and send gifts.

Drizly’s new digital interface also enables immersive brand experiences with alcohol products; rich content placements; and sponsored listings.

Barnes & Noble is trying to generate excitement around its struggling Nook products with a giveaway tied to social media.

The retailer says the #NOOKReadingStyle Sweepstakes is designed to inspire book lovers to share their reading style on their Facebook pages and other social media channels. Through March 31, participants can enter for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a $500 Gilt E-Gift Card, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK and 100 $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Cards by completing the sweepstakes entry form on the NOOK Facebook page.

Laval, Canada - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is purchasing 21 stores, 151 dealer fuel supply agreements and five development properties through its Circle K Stores Inc. subsidiary from Cinco J Inc. The 21 stores and development properties are located in Texas, while the 151 dealer fuel supply agreements are located in the Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Maine-based L.L. Bean Inc. intends to almost triple its store count by 2020, according to a company memo distributed to employees this month.