For the Week of October 21st

Management Changes:

Utility Inc. (Seattle design agency and manufacturing house) has named John Jensen controller and vp of operations and Debbi Murray art director. Jensen will oversee day-to-day operations and handle strategic growth for the company's business units. Murray is responsible for client needs and developing a structure and growth plan for the company's 2-D studio.

Junckers Hardwood Inc. (Anaheim, Calif., hardwood flooring distributor) has hired Dean Nichol as national account manager. Nichol is responsible for developing business throughout the eastern commercial marketplace and will also head up Junckers'new New York office.

The Home Depot (Atlanta home-improvement retailer) has hired John Costello as executive vp and chief marketing officer. Costello is responsible for the company's worldwide marketing, advertising, branding and research, as well as long-term growth strategies. He most recently served as chief global marketing officer of Yahoo!

Obermoeller Inc. (St. Louis communications firm) has added Brandy Huber as regional account supervisor. Huber is responsible for regional coordination and account supervision from the company's off-campus sales office in Quincy, Ill.

Davaco Inc. (Dallas retail solutions provider) has hired Michael Murray as director of Davaco Sourcing, the company's automated sourcing division. Murray is responsible for the company's new automated system, as well as cost-management issues. He previously served as president of Blockbuster Entertainment's international division.

Relocations:

Huie Design Inc. (Atlanta design firm) to 130 Krog Street, Studio C, Atlanta, GA 30307. The company's phone and fax numbers are unchanged at 404-892-0677 and (fax) 404-892-4417.

Store Openings/Contracts:

Witty! And Associates (Raleigh, N.C., store planning and merchandising firm) has been commissioned to provide store planning and merchandising services for the new Old Salem Visitor Center in Winston Salem, N.C. Witty! will handle all fixture design, graphics and merchandise installation for a new souvenir shop and a gift and bakery shop at the historic village.

Business Briefs:

The Institute of Store Planners (ISP) has announced that the 32nd annual 2002 ISP/VM+SD International Store Design Competition awards ceremony will be held on Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 in New York during the National Retail Federation Convention. The dinner and awards presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Puck Building, 295 Lafayette St., and will be moderated by VM+SD editor Steve Kaufman. More than 170 entries from retailers and architectural and design firms will compete for top honors in 17 categories. Additionally, the 2002 ISP/VM+SD Store of the Year and the Second Annual Retail Design Legion of Honor Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented. For more information, contact the ISP International Office at 914-332-1806 or visit the ISP web site, www.ispo.org.

Utility Inc. (Seattle design agency and manufacturing house) has been retained by Clarks England (Newton Upper Falls, Mass., footwear manufacturer) to work on the retailer's brand positioning.

Stingray Lighting Inc. (Escondido, Calif., lighting fixture designer and manufacturer) has added Liberty Lighting Group Inc. (Chatham, N.J.) as a sales-representative firm for the state of New Jersey.

Mires (San Diego design firm) has been awarded several new assignments. The firm will handle a branding campaign for Sega of America Inc.; a marketing communications assignment for Arena Stage's new fund-raising campaign; and a P-O-P program design for Great American Cookies.