Oahu Publications names direct mail manager
Richard Araiza, former director of mailing for Hagadone Printing Co., has joined Oahu Publications Inc. as direct mail manager. He has more than 18 years of mailing experience in Hawaii and California.
In his new capacity, Araiza will work with the sales staff in creating direct mail campaigns and assisting with mailing solutions.
Araiza will oversee all mailing operations including MidWeek, MidWeek Kauai and direct mail. Oahu Publications, the parent company of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, is one of the largest direct mailers in Hawaii.
"We are extremely excited to have an individual of Richard’s knowledge and reputation to assist our customers with their mailing needs," said Dave Kennedy, senior vice president of marketing for Oahu Publications. "We will be better able to respond to questions and concerns about the ever-changing postal regulations."
Araiza is also a youth baseball coach in Mililani and the Sparks director for AWANA Ministry at Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor.
3 Hawaii isles among best adventure sites
Kauai, Maui and Hawaii island are the No. 3, 4 and 7 top adventure destinations in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The magazine compiled the rankings based on travel writers’ recommendations and the strength of US News’ website users’ recommendations to fellow travelers.
Adventure travel is "self-defined," Jay Talwar, senior vice president of the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau, said Wednesday. One HVCB marketing strategy is to depict Hawaii in a way that potential visitors can "insert" themselves into pictured activities and imagine themselves enjoying the experience.
Payless owner to shut down 475 stores
NEW YORK » The parent company of Payless and Stride Rite shoe stores, Collective Brands Inc., said Wednesday that it plans to close 475 stores within the next three years and has engaged a firm to help it explore its options.
Hawaii has 15 Payless ShoeSource stores — 11 on Oahu, two on Hawaii island and one each on Kauai and Maui. The company is not disclosing which, if any, Hawaii locations are targeted for closure, according to spokeswoman Mardi Larson, nor was it clear how many Hawaii residents the company employs. Stride Rite has no Hawaii stores, according to its website.
The company posted a second-quarter loss of $35 million Wednesday, including $83.6 million in one-time charges that mainly reflect the declining value of its stores and of Stride Rite’s trade name. The company’s shares soared more than 40 percent in after-hours trading after the announcement, settling at $13.70, up $3.42, or 33.3 percent from Wednesday’s close. They had ended regular trading at $10.28, up 26 cents.
Collective Brands plans to close stores with low sales volume in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. More than 300 will be shuttered by the end of the year, including about 275 Payless and 75 Stride Ride children’s stores. The company currently operates 4,844 stores, of which 4,461 are Payless stores. During the second quarter, it opened 18 stores, closed 20 and moved 14.
Books-A-Million to buy 14 Borders leases
Books-A-Million Inc. will acquire the leases of 14 Borders Group Inc. superstores and specialty stores for $934,209, according to documents filed Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York City.
Borders and Books-A-Million reached agreement for the lease sale, which includes a payment of $750,000 plus $184,209 in "cure" costs for landlords, according to the filing. The agreement has a condition that it must be approved by the bankruptcy court by Monday, according to the filing. A deal for Books-A-Million to buy 30 Borders locations fell through last month.
The store locations in the lease agreement include Portland, Maine; Canton, Ohio; Concord, N.H.; and Mays Landing, N.J. (None of the stores is in Hawaii.)
Burger King adds oatmeal to breakfast menu
PORTLAND, Ore. » Burger King is adding oatmeal to its breakfast menu as the struggling fast-food chain tries to reinvent itself.
The world’s second-largest burger chain says the move balances out its menu to offer customers a healthier breakfast option. It is also an attempt by the company to catch up with competitors and expand its appeal beyond its traditional burger-and-fries base to boost its sagging sales.
Burger King began offering Quaker Oatmeal, available in original and fruit-topped maple, for $1.99, in all of its stores on Monday.
ON THE MOVE
Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Christian Forbes as its vice president of financial planning and analysis. His responsibilities includes leading analysis efforts within Hawaiian’s finance department while focusing on revenue enhancement and cost reduction. Forbes was previously vice president of U.S. real estate for the Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C., and worked various finance-related positions at US Airways Group in Tempe, Ariz.
JTB World Vacations has awarded Ryoh Shiomi the inaugural LOOK JTB Customer Service Award. She is one of six honorees who were selected worldwide to receive the award, which is based on customer surveys. Shiomi is a tour guide and narrator for Roberts Hawaii based on the island of Hawaii and has worked for the company for five years.
Marukai Corp. has presented $30,000, which was raised from the Taste of Marukai annual fundraising event, to the following four nonprofits that preserve and extend the Japanese heritage in Hawaii: the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.
The Limtiaco Co. has announced Francis Choe as communications associate. He will provide clients with tactical and editorial support, specializing in social media and governmental affairs. Choe was previously a legislative assistant to state Sen. Brickwood Galuteria.
