Dublin-based Primark to fill Filene’s space

Dublin "fast-fashion" chain Primark will anchor the former Filene's building in Downtown Crossing with a first-in-the-U.S. store expected to bring a fresh vibe to the re-emerging Hub shopping district.

Primark is slated to open in 2015 on the first four floors of the building, which also will include a Roche Bros. supermarket and ad firm Arnold Worldwide's new headquarters.

One of the largest clothing retailers in Europe with 271 stores, Primark touts its "value-for-money" prices. The Boston location is planned as its flagship for the Northeast, where it says negotiations are under way to open other stores through mid-2016.

"We'll open some stores, we'll start to learn, we'll see what sort of reception we get, and we'll take it from there," George Weston, CEO of Primark's London parent company, Associated British Foods, told Reuters.

Primark's success in new markets, including Spain, Germany and France, meant it "earned the right" to enter the United States, according to Weston. "We're not assuming that we'll succeed, but we do have a powerful proposition in terms of fashionability at very low prices," he said.

Primark leased 112,000 square feet from Millennium Partners, whose $630 million project will include 450 luxury condos in the new Millennium Tower, in addition to the refurbished Filene's building.

"One of the most important goals ... was to bring someone to the site that would bring energy, vitality (and) feed off what's there and enhance it," Millennium partner Mario Palumbo said. "The excitement of bringing an Irish retailer to the most prominent retailing site in Boston is fantastic. They're uniquely good at what they do."

Primark competes in fast-fashion with Uniqlo, H&M, Forever 21 and Zara. Fast-fashion retailers are known for the quick pace with which they bring new clothing into their stores and are among the fastest growing retail companies.

"It's a store that will be unique and special and create some buzz and … that's what downtown Boston needs," retail consultant Michael Tesler said.

Primark started in 1969 in Ireland, where it operates as Penneys. It will benefit from the $2.8 million in city tax breaks given to Millennium, which offered Primark "economic lease terms they found acceptable because of the property tax relief on the commercial portion of the building in the early years of the lease," a Millennium spokeswoman said.

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The joys of massage

Massage has long been thought of as an indulgence. While it is quite a relaxing and rejuvenating treat, I believe it's high time we thought of massage as a regular part of maintaining optimum health. If you can't remember when your last massage was, it's been far too long. Read about the researched benefits of massage, then book one for yourself ASAP! Many spas, including my Grettacole locations, offer a discount for booking a series of appointments, ensuring you keep a massage on your calendar at all times while saving a bit of money.

• Generally, massage can help to reduce pain, whether it's an isolated injury or muscle soreness after regular workouts.

• Massage helps promote deeper sleep, giving you a more restorative night of rest. Who couldn't benefit from that?

• If you suffer from high stress or anxiety, regular massage might help you to relax.

• Massage can boost your immune system, keeping you healthy by protecting your body from germs that cause colds and flu.

• If you frequently battle intense headaches or even migraines, massage can reduce the pain with targeted techniques.

• Massage may help ease the side effects of aggressive medical treatments. Nausea, pain and fatigue can be minimized with regular appointments.

Keep in mind, not all massages or massage therapists are created equal.

• Be sure to have an open and honest conversation with your massage practitioner at the start of your appointment. This will help them to determine what areas to focus on or stay away from and help them to suggest additional therapies like hot stones or reflexology. Don't rely on those client intake forms alone to express exactly what you hope to get out of your massage.

• Don't be afraid to speak up if the pressure is too intense or too weak — the therapists are trained to tailor their techniques to your needs.

• Finally, give yourself over to the experience. Don't feel pressure to talk throughout your massage. Just relax, unwind and reset.

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Microsoft expands ad-free Bing search for schools

LOS ANGELES — Microsoft is expanding a program that gives schools the ability to prevent ads from appearing in search results when they use its Bing search engine. The program, launched in a pilot program earlier this year, is now available to all U.S. schools, public or private, from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The program is meant to create a safer online environment for children, but also promote use of Bing, which trails market leader Google Inc.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. is also giving away a first-generation Surface tablet computer to schools where community members sign up to use the ad-supported version of Bing outside of the school. Sixty parents and friends who do 30 Bing searches a day could earn their school a Surface in a little over a month.

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FedEx sued over deadly California bus crash

LOS ANGELES — The mother of a 17-year-old honors student who was among 10 people killed in a fiery Northern California bus crash sued FedEx on Tuesday, alleging that its trucks have a history of catching fire.

The negligence suit that seeks $100 million in damages is the first filed in connection with the April 10 freeway crash in Orland, said A. King Aminpour, the attorney for the plaintiffs.

The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Rosa Rivera, mother of Jennifer Bonilla of Los Angeles.

The Dorsey High School student had earned a college scholarship. She and other teens were heading north for a free tour of Humboldt State University when the bus was struck head-on by a FedEx truck.

Dozens escaped through windows before the bus exploded into towering flames, but five students, three adult chaperones and both drivers died.

"She had her whole future before her," Aminpour said of Bonilla. "She was the first in her family to ever go to college."

The California Highway Patrol has not determined the cause of the crash 100 miles north of Sacramento.

Some witnesses reported that the FedEx truck was on fire before the crash, and the lawsuit alleges that FedEx trucks have a history of catching fire from mechanical problems, driver error or improper cargo loading.

"Our heartfelt condolences remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident," Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp. said in a statement. "We remain focused on providing support to those affected and cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation. This is not the time for us to discuss potential litigation."

The suit also names the estate of the FedEx driver and the bus owner, Silverado Stages, as defendants. The bus lacked adequate exit doors that would have allowed passengers to escape after the crash, the lawsuit contends.

A message seeking comment from a Silverado Stages executive after hours Tuesday was not immediately returned.

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Skechers’ GOmebs net foothold

There was one big winner in yesterday's marathon that didn't wear a racer's bib — Skechers USA, whose new shoe is off to a running start.

Men's winner Meb 
Keflezighi completed the 26.2-mile course in a pair of Skechers GOmeb Speed 3 racing shoes, slated to hit store shelves this fall. The fortuitous endorsement deal is expected to boost Skechers' foray into performance footwear.

California-based Skechers launched its performance division in 2011 with the GOrun line of shoes and signed Keflezighi as a brand ambassador, a deal that was extended in November through 2016.

"Their performance shoes have not been widely distributed, but … running magazines have given them high marks," said analyst Matt Powell of Princeton Retail Analysis. "But I think after this win, a lot of retailers are going to take 
another look."

Known foremost as a casual, lifestyle footwear maker, Skechers passed Boston's New Balance to gain the fifth-largest share of the overall athletic footwear market this year at 3 percent of total dollar sales, behind industry leader Nike (with 46.2 percent), Jordan, Adidas and Asics. But among performance running companies, Skechers is ranked 17th with just a 0.14 percent share.

"It usually takes a while for a new brand to get accepted," Powell said. But, he added, "Obviously if someone can win the Boston Marathon in (Skechers), they have a good performance shoe."

Keflezighi's win is a "huge opportunity for us to elevate the brand's perception," said Rick Higgins, vice president of merchandising and marketing for the Skechers Performance Division. "Slowly, but surely, our strategy has really been executed superbly since Meb came on board," he said. "We've transitioned from just being a lifestyle shoe company to now being taken serious in the performance shoe category."

Skechers released its initial GOmeb Speed racing shoes in late 2011. Yesterday's Boston Marathon was the public's first look at the third iteration, and the company launched a new "Go Meb, Go!" advertising campaign around the GOmeb Speed 3 on Friday in the Hub.

Skechers likely will take another look at that campaign given Keflezighi's performance yesterday. "I'm sure that we will throw in a few mentions of his Boston win," Higgins said.

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Take charge before, during the interview

Book knowledge and technical skills aside, people hire people they like and trust.

While it is important to "fit in" with a company's culture, know that what you bring is unique. The key when looking for a job is to accentuate your differences and be that person others want to know more about.

Here's some tips for a successful interview:

•   Research the individual and/or the company.

•    Dress appropriately — professional attire is never wrong.

•  Leave overcoats and other unnecessary items in the car.

•   Arriving "on time" means 15 minutes early, and make sure cellphones and pagers are turned off

•   Walk through the doors as if you already work there, as if the person with whom you are interviewing is already your boss.

•   Stand in the reception area with portfolio/briefcase in left hand, leaving right hand free to shake hands.

•   Initiate the handshake and make eye contact.

•   Ask before assuming first names.

• They are seated first and you should choose the least comfortable chair.

•   Body language — sitting, gesturing, fidgeting — are all noticed and judged.

•   Bring extra resumes and exchange cards.

•   Ask before taking notes.

•   Be prepared to tell your "story" including choices you made and how they have led you to the next level.

•   Make sure there is nothing out there on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn that you would not want a prospective employer to see.

•  Wait for the interviewer to bring up the subject of compensation.

•  Discuss accomplishments in a non-boasting way such as, "I was fortunate for the opportunity to..."

•   Interview the interviewer, as well.

•   If you want the job, ask for it.

•  Send an email thank you (after you have determined they are e-culture) and a personal thank you note the same day.

Above all, be yourself. Project a positive attitude and you will attract positive attention and results, whether you want the job or not.

Judith Bowman is president of her own consulting company. Visit her website, protocolconsultants.com to learn more.

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Twitter voice gets drowned out

Twitter has lost its way.

It's no longer the platform that gives marginalized citizens a voice. It's not a digital equalizer where barriers between the ordinary and the powerful are broken down.

It's so noisy there that ordinary people can barely be heard at all. It's where Justin Bieber has more followers than the leader of the free world. At bottom, it's a platform that has a hard time making a case for new users to sign up.

Recent data bears out Twitter's problems. A full 44 percent of its 947 million accounts have never uttered a single tweet, according to Twopcharts, a third-party tracking site.

What's more, there are about 391 million accounts with zero followers. Just over 232 million are themselves following no one.

It wasn't too long ago that Twitter had so much egalitarian potential. For Egyptian and Libyan protesters, Twitter lit up candles in the darkness. During the so-called Arab Spring, Twitter carried messages of freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East and North Africa. At that time, just three years ago, interesting and compelling content bubbled to the surface.

But no longer.

Twitter is arterio-
sclerotic now, clogged with idle users and spam accounts that make it difficult to find anything of real interest. If you were an ordinary person looking to join Twitter today, you'd have to put serious time into gaining a following in order to yield any semblance of an audience.

And before you even get to that, you'd have to figure out your primary purpose in being there. For instance, are you into politics, advocating for a cause or looking for local news?

Unless you're a known brand or personality, finding a niche and crafting a brand is essential. And time-consuming. It's about updating constantly and consistently.

Count on babysitting your feed and even posting the same content over and over to gain followers.

These days, Twitter is a world where celebrities rule. Relationships are superficial. And that's why those who use the service are using it less.

If Twitter doesn't right the ship, it will become exactly the type of entity it was supposed to counteract: a caste system where popular people just become more popular and powerful people, more powerful.

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Homing in on survivors’ needs

A group of architects are donating their services to make the homes of marathon bombing survivors more accessible.

Nearly 100 architects and 10 consultants have signed up to help through an effort called Renovate for Recovery, working with engineers, carpenters, designers and dozens of other volunteers to complete one project in New Hampshire, with more than a half dozen others in the works.

"After the bombings, survivors were overwhelmed, physically and emotionally, so their homes were on the back burner," said Dawn Guarriello of the Design Partnership of Cambridge. "But people don't have to be an amputee to take advantage of this. No injury is too small."

Survivors apply for modifications to their homes or businesses through a Department of Public Safety initiative called the Boston Survivors Accessibility Alliance, which assesses requests on a case-by-case basis, said Terrel Harris, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

"Those getting help don't need to worry about anything," Harris said. "It's all done free."

Although most of the projects so far have called for redesigning kitchens and bathrooms or installing lifts or elevators, volunteers can modify homes in a variety of other ways, including replacing door knobs with handles for people who sustained neurological problems such as gripping, or installing smoke detectors with strobe lights for those who lost some or all of their hearing, Guarriello said.

"Our biggest need right now is donated materials like garage doors, sinks and tiles, hopefully through local suppliers," she said. "We want to open people's eyes to different ways of thinking about accessibility."

Michael McHugh, a member of the Boston Society of Architects and chairman of Architecture for Humanity Boston, began working with Karen Rand, who lost her leg from the knee down.

Rand lives in a third-floor apartment in Somerville. So McHugh and the firm he works for, Davis Square Architects, designed a new handrail and sturdier steps, which were built by "Ask This Old House" for a segment of the TV show.

To allow Rand to sit outside in nice weather, McHugh and his firm also designed a new roof deck, which was built by S+H Construction in Cambridge.

"As a runner myself, I feel a strong connection to the running community, and it's been really great to reach out in some way," McHugh said.

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Classic cinema

You can't watch "Jurassic Park" on an iPad.

Oh, sure, technically you can. But if you reduce Steven Spielberg's terrible lizards down to something you can hold in your lap, you lose too much — nobody wants to see a jeep racing away from a T. rex the size of a butterfly.

Unless your plasma TV has a thousand-inch display, you need to see "Jurassic Park" on the big screen. Thankfully, you can see it tomorrow at the Somerville Theatre.

Curated by theater general manager Ian Judge and hosted by Judge and projectionist David Kornfeld, the movie house's centennial celebration is in full swing with loads of classics from the last century — still to come: screenings of "The Princess Bride," "The Last Waltz," "The Departed" and more.

"We wanted something that honored the anniversary and encapsulated it," Judge said. "We got some amazing movies, the best print of 'Sunset Boulevard' I've ever seen. I didn't really know what to expect with attendance. I knew it'd be good for 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Casablanca' but 90 percent of the films in the 100-day countdown to the May 11 anniversary have made us money."

One of the joys of the celebration is watching Judge and Kornfeld introduce the films. Witty and knowledgeable, the cinephiles put the films in context with history and humor. For Judge, who grew up coming to the theater and began in the business as an usher at the now-shuttered Harvard AMC, the series has put the glory of an old movie house in the spotlight.

"Other than the seats and the light bulbs, most of what you see in the theater is 100 years old," he said.

The final film in the program will be "The Wizard of Oz" on May 11 — the screening will also include three vaudeville acts, live music and classic short subjects. Judge loves a lot of the films in the series (he urges everybody to search out "A Thousand Clowns"). But he says nothing compares to "The Wizard of Oz."

"Going to see this movie in a theater like ours is such a magical experience," he said. "That magic is lost when you go to a multiplex. Sure, you can watch it on your phone or on DVD anytime. But that won't leave an imprint. I'm hoping there's some kid at our screening that grows up to take their kid to 'The Wizard of Oz' in 50 years."

For details and tickets to 
the Somerville Theatre's 
centennial programming, go to 
somervilletheatreonline.com.

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Dart adapter flashes power

Laptops keep getting smaller and lighter, but chargers never seem to change — until now.

A California-based company founded by a group of MIT graduate students has invented what it calls the world's smallest laptop-charger.

Measuring 2.5 cubic inches and weighing just over 2 ounces, FINsix's Dart is barely bigger than a lipstick case — making it four times smaller and six times lighter than the average laptop adapter — but it charges just as quickly.

"Everyone who has a laptop knows the big brick they have to carry around," said CEO Vanessa Green, who co-founded the company as an MBA student at MIT's Sloan School of Management. "We looked at the market and said, 'Hey, we can do something different here.'"

FINsix launched the Dart in January to rave reviews for its practicality at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Last Monday, the company began a monthlong Kickstarter campaign and met its goal of $200,000 on the crowdfunding site within 12 hours. By 7 p.m. Friday, the Dart had 3,104 backers who had pledged $336,706, with 25 days still to go in the campaign.

The money will be used to complete the development and production of the 65-watt charger, which sells on Kickstarter for $79, but which FINsix expects to retail in stores for about $119.

In addition to its small size and light weight, the Dart is designed for use anywhere in the world, and its laptop plus USB port allows people to charge multiple gadgets from a single outlet.

The Dart works well with all major PC brands, as well as with MacBooks 65 watts and under. To make chargers for the latter, though, FINsix has to buy off-the-shelf Apple adapters to get the connectors. So the Dart for MacBook costs $79 more than a standard Dart.

The charger is not compatible with 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros and the 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina display because they require more than 65 watts. It also is not compatible with the Microsoft Surface tablet and the Google Chromebook Pixel.

The good news for gadget buffs: The Dart is just the first of a full line of the smallest, lightest and highest-performing power electronics FINsix intends to make.

To accomplish that, the company has raised more than $6 million in venture capital and angel investments and assembled a team of 18 employees — five in Boston and the remainder in Menlo Park, Calif.

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