General Merchandise

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. is launching a multichannel marketing effort aimed at college students and their families, the mass merchandise retailer said Thursday.

Target announced the Bullseye University Digital Experience, which features popular YouTube personalities in a life-size "dorm" and allows people to buy items from the "dorm" between Monday and next Thursday, and enter contests to win college gear.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Wednesday named Jason Reiser to the position of SVP merchandising. Reiser will replace John Scanlon, who retired from the company at the end of March.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute on Wednesday named Mark Baum SVP industry relations and chief collaboration officer. In this newly designed function, Baum will engage retailer, supplier, manufacturer and service provider CEO’s to help improve industry collaboration at all points of the food retail chain. 

SOLON, Ohio — Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing on Tuesday announced that BV Investment Partners has become ECRM’s majority shareholder, effective immediately. Greg Farrar was named ECRM's CEO.

PLANO, Texas — Crossmark, a sales and marketing services company in the consumer goods industry, has named John Compton to its board of directors to serve along with principals of Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm.

CHICAGO — This August, retailers can expect that prepared parents will shop and spend more during the back-to-school season than they did last year, according to ShopperTrak in an analysis of expected retail foot traffic.

According to ShopperTrak national retail sales, when compared to the same period last year, will rise 4.3% in August and retail foot traffic will increase 0.6%.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Company today announced the launch of its new Relaxing Rituals line. The company says each blend of three different essential oils creates a special fragrance combination designed to soothe the mind, body and soul and provide an easy, relaxing ritual that fits busy lifestyles.

The new line includes warmer oils, reed diffusers, votive candles and tumbler candles in four new scents.

SAN ANTONIO — Operation Homefront and Dollar Tree on Monday joined forces for the upcoming pre-school season to gather school supplies for military children across the country. Beginning Tuesday, supplies can be purchased by customers at the more than 4,000 Dollar Tree and Deal$ stores nationwide and placed in collection boxes in each store. 

The Back to School Brigade program is a nationwide campaign by Operation Homefront and Dollar Tree, now in its sixth season. Last year, Dollar Tree patrons donated more than $3 million of supplies nationwide.