Marketing agency The Coastal Group is launching a new retail division targeting consumer clients.

This new division will be headed by Ed Hershey, founder Hershey Communications, a consumer marketing and catalog communications firm serving a variety of retail clients including Bloomingdales, Dillard's, Nordstrom's, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Mercedes-Benz. 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," said David Weiss, president and founder of 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."