Agency

Following a better-than-expected back-to-school season, retailers are optimistic for year-end retail sales. According to a new survey from BDO USA, LLP, retail CFOs expect a 4.5 percent increase in total 2012 sales. While the forecast shows improving confidence when compared to sales projections for 2011 (+3 percent) and 2010 (+2 percent), retailers have been relatively guarded in year-end expectations. In 2011, total retail sales exceeded expectations and increased 7.3 percent, according to the Commerce Department.

The National Coffee Association finds that Hispanic-Americans drink significantly more coffee than their non-Hispanic neighbors.

Nearly half (45%) of the nation’s Hispanic1 population lives in just 10 metropolitan areas, according to tabulations of the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

Veteran US Hispanic sales, marketing, media and research executive Arthur Rockwell has departed Geoscape where he was VP of Sales and has been named President & CEO of Precise Engagement, LLC, an engagement marketing firm.

The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) will honor Hispanic industry leaders and recognize the best in Hispanic public relations campaigns at its 28th Annual PRemio Awards and Scholarships Gala to be held Thursday, October 4, 2012 at Cicada in the historic art-deco Oviatt building in Los Angeles. The evening will be hosted by Diana Alvear, “NBC News” correspondent.

Dial Global and National Latino Broadcasting (NLB) announced a partnership to provide a wide array of programming aimed at Hispanics across the country. Beginning in October, NLB’s two 24/7 radio formats, Cristina Radio and En Vivo, will be distributed to radio stations nationwide by Dial Global.

As data grows and attention spans shrink, infographics become more vital—here’s how to make good ones. By The Team | Yahoo! Advertising Solutions

Time Warner Cable (TWC) announced the appointment of La Comunidad, a global independent agency, as its new Multicultural agency of record after a competitive review that included a short list of creative agencies. Leading review process was Accenture, whose mission was to scout all the offerings in the market to ensure that Time Warner Cable retained the best-in-class marketing partners.

Kyocera has assigned US Hispanic and Latin American marketing and advertising responsibilities to Coconut Grove, FL based MARCA.

Univision Enterprises, a division of Univision Communications Inc., announced an exclusive global agreement to license an array of consumers products branded with the name and image of the late Cuban “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz.