The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a notice that provides the criteria and process for its acceptance of accreditation of third-party conformity assessment bodies for testing relating to the flammability of children's sleepwear. As a result of this action, children's sleepwear sizes 0 through 6X and 7 through 14 and manufactured after Feb.
A footwear favorite of moms since 1919, Stride Rite, a Collective Brands company, will join forces with Li & Fung Retailing, a privately held company, to open stores across Asia. The first stores will open in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia as early as December 2010, with locations in China breaking ground in 2011.
Timed for holiday shopping, Walt Disney celebrated the grand opening of its new 20,000-square-foot store located in New York's Times Square on November 9th. Customers can request movie clips that are shown on a 12-foot screen, assemble car toys from the Disney-Pixar "Cars" film and shop amongst a two-story princess castle.
In a report from comScore, an analytics and research firm, online spending this holiday season is expected to grow by at least 9 percent. Buoyed by steep price cuts, early sales and an upbeat October—which is a key predictor—the growth is twice last year's pace and 2 percent higher than the firm anticipated.
New ICM is nesting into a new showroom space located at the 34 West 33rd building in room 318. The shared space, represented by Lisa Lombardi, is located on a high traffic floor. Pricilla Hunt, vice president of marketing at New ICM said the move is a step in the right direction to reach more retailers. "It's a wonderful location. The size is much larger, with absolutely beautiful furnishings," she described. "The showroom is extremely attractive and highly functional." Contact the showroom at (212) 695-8554.
Larry Lucas Honored by Room It Up
~ Room It Up has appointed Atlanta showroom owner Larry Lucas as the first recipient of it's annual sales rep of the year award.
"We appreciate Larry's hard work and the level of service both he and his sales reps provide to our customers. We are excited to give him this award to show our appreciation," said Room It Up sales director Fred Schmidt.
Von Maur, a family-owned chain with 25 stores in the Midwest, is planning to open a store in the Atlanta area in November 2011, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The store will take over the Belk location at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, pending the city's design board review. The location would serve as a flagship for the South.
"We've seen exciting growth in the South. We want to be part of that," president Jim von Maur told the AJC. "Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would open a store in Atlanta, Ga. It's a dream come true."
Toys 'R' Us has added new advancements in its mobile technology capabilities, providing multi-channel shoppers with new ways to learn about and take advantage of store promotions by simply using their mobile devices. As part of these enhancements, the company has adopted a coupon barcode scanning technology and has implemented a mobile messaging program, presenting on-the-go shoppers with the ability to receive exclusive text message offers directly to their mobile phones.
Barnes & Noble has added playrooms in its Enfield, Conn.; Manchester, Conn., North Brunswick, N.J.; Holmdel, N.J.; and Bronx, N.Y. locations. The play spaces incorporate interactive displays, creativity and learning through activities, scientific discoveries and favorite children's characters.