Microsoft to Debut Retail Store Oct. 22 … and More

HIRINGS/PROMOTIONS/RETIREMENTS

The Sports Authority (Englewood, Colo.), a sporting goods retailer, announced that Doug Morton has retired as ceo, but will remain as chairman.

Graphtec America Inc. (Santa Ana, Calif.), a manufacturer of plotters, vinyl cutters, color printers, scanners, digitizer tablets, intelligent recording instruments and data acquisition systems, has promoted Glenn Liebner to western regional sales manager and hired Neil Zdunkawicz to product planning manager.

STORE OPENINGS

Microsoft Inc. (Redmond, Wash.) announced it will open its first retail store in Scottsdale, Ariz., on October 22. A date has not been released for the opening of a second location, in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Mall of America (Bloomington, Minn.) announced that a 12,000-square-foot MagiQuest live-action fantasy game site has opened on its third level.

Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.), an electronics manufacturer and retailer, has opened a store in Manhasset, N.Y.

Sprouts Farmers Market (Phoenix), a natural foods retailer, opened its third location in the Austin, Texas, market.

Eagle Village Shops (Wayne, Pa.), announces the opening of Skirtin’ Around, an apparel store for women aged 16 to over 60.

RELOCATIONS

Moss Inc., a manufacturer of tensioned fabric structures, to 2600 Elmhurst Road, Elk Grove Village, Ill. 60007. The company’s toll-free phone number remains the same, but its local phone is now 847-238-4200, and its main fax is 847-238-4676.

HELPING OUT

Bulbrite (Moonachie, N.J.), a lighting manufacturer and supplier, announced that in honor of breast cancer awareness month, it will donate 10 percent of the suggested retail price of every Pink DOT-it Portable LED light it sells in October to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

AWARDS

Frank Mayer & Associates Inc. (Grafton, Wis.), a merchandising and visual marketing company, won four Design of the Times Awards at the recent In Store Marketing Expo. The company nabbed a gold award for its illy iperEspresso kiosk, along with three bronze awards.