Retail briefs

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/7/2004 12:00:00 AM

Home Depot hires help to target Hispanics

The Home Depot has selected The Vidal Partnership as its agency of record for marketing and advertising to Hispanics.

"The Home Depot is committed to being the company of choice for the Hispanic community," said John Costello, executive vice president, merchandising and marketing, The Home Depot.

The Home Depot has an increasing focus on serving and marketing to the rapidly growing Hispanic community, stated the company. In addition to its local and national mass media advertising to Hispanic consumers, the company's multicultural marketing includes the official sponsorship of the Mexican National Soccer Team's 2004 tour in the United States and local cultural events, including Cinco de Mayo and the Calle Ocho festival in Miami.

Sears signs technology deal with CSC

Computer Sciences Corporation has signed a 10-year agreement to provide Sears, Roebuck and Co. with information technology (IT) infrastructure support services. CSC estimates the value of the agreement to be approximately $1.6 billion over the term of the contract.

Under the agreement, CSC will provide desktop, server, voice and data network support, as well as services for systems supporting Sears-related Web sites and decision-support technology. Sears will retain responsibility for overall technology standards, architecture and service policies, stated the companies.

Approximately 200 Sears associates currently manage the company's technical infrastructure. Under the agreement, the majority are expected to begin transferring to CSC beginning June 12.

BJ's taps Stout for merchandising

BJ's Wholesale Club has appointed Karen Stout to executive vice president, merchandising. She will oversee strategy for both food and general merchandise categories.

Stout has 25 years of experience in the retail grocery business. Most recently, she served as president of a 72-store chain in the mid-Atlantic. Prior to her most recent position, Stout was president of a 24-store chain of retail food and general merchandise stores. BJ's did not disclose the names of her previous companies.

Family Dollar names Flur to new post

Family Dollar Stores has named Dorlisa Flur to the newly created position of senior vice president — strategy and business development.

During a 16-year career at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Flur earned a partnership and for the past three years has served as leader of McKinsey's Retail Practice division in the Southeast.

At Family Dollar, she will address "the full range of opportunities we have to profitably grow our business, including those related to new business development, consumer insights and strategic market research and marketing and brand positioning," according to Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

Marshall Field's to sponsor model search

As part of a new partnership signed with the Ford Models, Marshall Field's will be the primary sponsor of Ford's Supermodel of the World U.S. Search.

The winner of the search process becomes the top U.S. contestant to compete in the Supermodel of the World International Final, which will be held in New York City in January 2005.

As primary sponsor of the 2004 search, Marshall Field's will host open scouting calls in 58 Marshall Field's stores on designated days from Aug. 14 to Sept. 2. Women ages 14 to 21 can bring books or photos and meet with Ford Models scouts during the open calls. Women also can enter online at http://fields.com.