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BOCA RATON, Fla. — Joseph Selame, who designed a wide range of well-known logos and brand identities for dozens of nonprofit organizations and companies, including CVS/pharmacy, died on March 29 in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 86.

By Jeff Weidauer, jweidauer_@_vestcom.com

One of the drawbacks of today’s connected global economy is the pervasive homogeneity in nearly everything. One can visit any state -- indeed, nearly any country -- and see many of the same stores and restaurants offering the same products.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets’ official Facebook page is celebrating its 10,000th fan with exclusive coupon offers, the grocer announced Tuesday.

Weis Markets’ Facebook fans now are eligible for these coupons at Facebook.com/WeisSuperMarket. The coupon offers include $5 off a $50 purchase; $1 off 12-oz. Weis quality granola; $1 off 12-count Weis quality coffee solos and $1 off a Weis Five Star item.

Gap Inc. wants international and online sales to account for 30% of its revenues within two years and a restructuring announced this week is expected to play a role in facilitating that growth.

The company said it would consolidate four existing international business units into one under the leadership of Stephen Sunnucks, a 30-year retail veteran who joined Gap five years ago.

Hot Topic has always strived to reflect the tastes, interests and attitudes of its customers and the newest evolution of its prototype is no exception. The store, in Santa Monica, Calif., and designed in collaboration with JGA, Southfield, Mich., is sleek and transparent. It mirrors the world of Hot Topic’s tech-savvy customers by seamlessly blending social and technological components into the shopping experience. The end result is a highly interactive environment; from access to online music-listening to stations where shoppers can co-create their own designs for t-shirts.

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — Vitamin Shoppe on Monday opened the doors to store No. 500 in St. Peters, Mo. — the company’s first store in that market and the third in the state.

Chicago -- Fifty percent of Americans use a mobile device to navigate their shopping journey, according to a new study released by Arc Worldwide, Leo Burnett’s marketing services arm.

The study -- “Marketing to the Mobile Shopper” -- found that mobile shopping has become a way of life for Americans. This trend is changing the traditional shopping journey and leaving companies with a serious ultimatum: deliver valuable mobile experiences or risk losing customers.

I’m not much of a follower of astrology and the signs of the zodiac, but I do know that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar.

It seems somehow fortuitous that speed and agility define a year that is all about economic recovery. And retail is moving forward at a rate that, while not exactly hare-like, is at least faster than the proverbial tortoise.