Hershey launches new retail and marketing division.

The Coastal Group, a full-service marketing agency, announced it is launching a new retail division targeting consumer clients.

Already widely known for its outstanding client service and creative design, The Coastal Group now extends the same award-winning services to retailers and direct marketing with this new division headed by Ed Hershey.

Ed Hershey founded Hershey Communications in 1983.

Under his direction, Hershey Communications quickly became a leader in consumer marketing and catalog communications serving a variety of major retail clients including: Bloomingdales, Dillard's, Nordstrom's, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Mercedes-Benz, FAO Schwartz, Dean and Deluca, Bedford Fair, Gymboree, Esprit, JCPenney, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chadwick's of Boston.

In addition to an impressive list of consumer/ retail clients, Hershey has also worked with some of the most prestigious shopping centers in the country including: South Coast Plaza, NorthPark, Houston Galleria, Lenox Square, Country Club Plaza and the Westchester. In 2001, AGA acquired Hershey Communications and, until recently, Hershey ran the Hershey Group at AGA.

"We are honored to be working with Ed Hershey and admire his experience, knowledge and vision," says David Weiss, President and Founder, The Coastal Group.

"At The Coastal Group, we are dedicated to providing our clients with cutting-edge creative and communication strategies and launching a new retail and direct marketing division enables us to bring our talents to an exciting new audience."

Hershey joins an impressive list of executives at The Coastal Group.

Co-Presidents David Weiss and Todd Weiss founded the firm in 1991 and rapidly expanded the company by opening offices in New York, Hong Kong and Chicago.