News

NEW YORK — Global information services company Nielsen announced the passing of one of its former executives.

Arthur C. "Art" Nielsen, Jr., 92, helped Nielsen create such innovations as consumer and performance surveys, market share, department and food index and television ratings, during his tenure as chairman and president. Nielsen's father, Arthur C. Nielsen, founded the company in 1923. Nielsen, Jr., joined the company in 1945 and retired in 1983, according to the New York Times.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Economic weakness and low consumer confidence, combined with vendor capacity/reliability, are the top threats to business success this peak season, according to a recent Peak Season Trends and Strategies Survey Report by Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

NEW YORK — Gilt Groupe has announced that Andrew Page has been promoted to the role of president from CFO, effective immediately. Page will report directly to Kevin Ryan, Founder and CEO. In his new position, Page will have operational responsibilities for Gilt's various business units, including Women's, Gilt MAN, Gilt Children, Gilt Home, Gilt Taste, Park & Bond, and Gilt City.

General Growth Properties is leveraging social media to promote Halloween. The mall owner has launched an online Halloween photo contest that prompts participants – from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 -- to visit their local GGP mall’s Facebook page and upload a Halloween photo for the opportunity to win a family vacation for four to Universal Orlando Resort.

NEW YORK — American Eagle Outfitters announced that it has teamed up with Cotton Incorporated to launch a denim recycling program at more than 850 American Eagle Outfitters stores and 47 college campuses across the United States.

By Ken Nisch, chairman, JGA

DALLAS — In an effort to encourage Americans to cook low-cost, heart-healthy meals at home, the charitable arm of Walmart and the American Heart Association have partnered on a new initiative.

The Simple Cooking with Heart program includes live demonstrations, online how-to videos, tips, recipes and free downloadable "host kits," which encourage people to host in-home parties to practice cooking simple, affordable and healthy meals with family, friends and neighbors, the Walmart Foundation and the American Heart Association said.

Paraiso Town Center in the Thousand Oaks, Calif., master-planned community of Dos Vientos Ranch is being renamed The Village at Dos Vientos Ranch, announced Peter Cohen, president of Paradise Capital Group, which acquired the 50,000-sq.-ft. mixed-used retail and office complex in June 2010.

A new name was very important toward rebranding and marketing the property, said Cohen. “We wanted to give the center a fresh start with a new name that was easy to pronounce and remember,” he said.